The record-union., 1891-11-28

Mr.. Maslin-That could not say; but
was particular, because l am interested
In that question. particularly looked to
see if / could find fig where the insect
was in; but declare L never saw fig
where it seemed possible for an insect to
enter; and when 1 took bottle of these
Blastophaga to my ranch, and went over
the ten acres, found only two figs with a
hole big enough to put an insect in, and
put the insects into these, but the figs
have fallen off.
Question-Was the pollen used taken
irom CALIFORNIA; grown figs or from the
imported?
Mr.. Maslin-From Capri figs grown by
Mr.. Shinn.
Mr.. Maslin (continuing)-I have ten
acres of Smyrna seedlings. / soWed the
seed in 1886 and 1885, The first crop this
year the fruit on the limbs was very
thick, as on plum and prune. The figs
this year of that crop on the trees that
were grown from seed are big, but had no
saccharine matter in them and dried right
up. About two weeks ago / found two
dozen little figs on currant wood, being
so-called second crop. They were of a
lovely cream, ivory color. The meat was
amber color and very sweet, but not fill
ing the receptacle. 1t only showed that
there was some saccharine principle be-
ing developed.
AAN lhIOu1ANI D1SOON Eh1s
The ground for argument by those who
believe in capritication has been that no
fertile seeds had been found in any Califor-
nla-grown fig. Also that all figs, and espe-
clally the Smyrna, only contain female
flowers; and the fact of fruit trees i'm
ported from Smyrna not coming to per-
fection gave them stronger grounds for
sucn belief, that is the pollen of the male
or Capri fig had to come in contact with
the fnWnrS of tho fam 10 fir 70
fruit. Also, that the reason of not having
found kernels in the seeds of California
grown figs was attributed to the lack of
the pollen fertilization.
On October 20, 1891, while visiting an
orchard at Los Gatos, I came across a
tree which attracted my attention by
reason Of it being of peculiar foliage: and
upon cutting the fruit l found that it
possessed both pistillate the female or
gan of q phenogam, consisting of the
ovary with its stylus and Stigmal
and staminate the pollen-bearing
organ of the flower, consisting Of
an anther usually supported upon a stalk
or filament) flowers, which were so
grouped that the pollen from one was
freely conveyed to the other. Thus fer
tilted the female blossoms had devel-
oped into hundreds of perfect seeds with
weli-defined kernels.
This is the first time that fruit of this
character has been found in this State.
that is, containing both pistillate and
staminate flowers, the seeds perfect ker-
nels. One of the specimens cut in the
presence of e. w. Mas in, Secretary
State Board Of Trade, and G. f. Weeks.
editor OF the San Francisco Chronicle,
was full Of pollen in fact the pollen was
so abundant that it gave the center OF the
fig yellow appearance. Unfortunately
the figs were not fully matured, so there
was no opportunity to test their quality
On cutting them open they were of de-
cidedly purple hue near the skin, chang
ing to bright red and to deep red in riper
specimens. Hardly any red coloration
was visible in greener specimens, the en-
tire flesh being deep purple. The fig is
of elongated shape, rather small, and re-
sembles the elongated fig grown by Mr..
Shinn, both in shape and color of flesh.
1t has a leaf resembling the Smyrna,
finely lobed.
Since the above was prepared Mr.
Maslin brought to my office November
9TH, several Seeding Smyrna figs grown
by him III Placer County. The speci-
mems were small, of a bright amber color,
and the fruits in the receptacle well de-
veloped and ripe. Upon examination
they were found to contain numerous
male flowers and considerable pollen.
We have here two conclusive facts show
ing that the insect is not altogether essen
tlal for the setting of the fruit, in some
figs at least.
This is a progressive world, and its
people, step by step, have unraveled
many of the most difficult problems; so
let US hope that wisdom and ingenuity
will in the near future solve this inter
esting question.
"A fact is a serious thing, and the most diff
cult matter in the world to determine.'