The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
F1G GRoWING IN CALIFORNIA.
Insects That FertiliEe the Flower of the
Smyrna Fig to BE Imported.

Insects That Fortilize the Flower Of the
Smyrna Fig to BE Imported.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 0.-The Department OF
Agriculture has Just inaugurated q system Of
agricultural exploration In foreign countries
which promises to be OF great benefit to the
agricultural interests of the United States.
The explorers are regularly commissioned by
the department and their commissions will rec
ommend them In the name Of the United
States to the good offices OF the government OF
any country in which they may be travelling.
The commissions were engraved at the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing. and bear q spread
eagle at the top fianked on one side by a por-
trait of a celebrated shorthorn bull and on the
other by the head Of President McKinley's IA
vorite saddle horse, Denmark. Jr.
The first person to receive a commission as
an agricultural explorer was Mr.. Seaman A.
Knapp Of Louisiana. who is assigned to duty in
Japan. Commissioner knapp's especial mis-
sion will be to investigate the culture OF rice In
Japan and to collect the choicest varieties OF
rice seed for distribution in the United States.
Although one OF the principal enterprises in
certain sections of this country. the cultivation
OF rice here has not reached anything like that
point Of perfection attained in the far East. and
the department attributes this largely to the
inferior variety Of the plant under cultivation
in this country and the lack of knowledge re-
garding its culture.
Another Commissioner Mr.. W. 7. Swingle. is
now at Mendelia. on the Egean Sea. in Turkey
in Asia, and his mission is by far the most in
teresting yet assigned. He will attempt to
transport and establish in California an insect
that fe~rtilizes the flower OF tho Smyrna fig.
without which the figs in California lack the
general productiveness and exquisite flavor Of
the imported article. He will also attempt to
intrOlupa in this pOuutrV n oOnpla of ynriatinq
of delicious oranges from Algeria and a variety
of grape which makes a delicious wine. DR..
l.. o. Howard. the entomologist Of the Agricul-
tural Department, gives an explanation of the
attempt to introduce the curious insect neces-
sary for the proper propagation Of Smyrna figs
in California.
He says that the Californians. In their effort
to grow a fig equal to the fig of commerce.. the
so-called Smyrna fig. have been growing the
Smyrna variety from cuttings imported direct
from the eastern end Of the Mediterranean Sea
through the Department of Agriculture. After
the trees reached bearing size it was found
that they dropped the majority of their fruit,
and that the fruit that did ripen was of an in
ferior quality.
1t has long been known in the Mediterranean
that the figs were fertilized by a curious insect
R hsR b as fr riH 81 'G tH@ pwii9 or p se.csil Mit csnri dmJ
growing upon the mountain sides in tlg-Grow-
ing regions: The inhabitants break of branches
of the capriilgS at certain periods OF tho year,
bring them down. and tie them to the branches
Of the true figs, and the insects issuing from
figs and crawl about, covered with pollen. sue
ceeding in fertilizing by far the larger number
1t has long been known that the imported
Smyrna fig owes its superiority to the number
Of Gio5 rln pc SEEDS iG Ts, ito S%ntfbiH IN b. Pu &n eSPSrEtmi sen 81 e the
California Academy OF Sciences and George q.
Roeding Of Fresno have shown that the Smyrna
Gently Mr.. RoedinE. has succeeded in SO
ff eTtliiasstion tf fsf0P pr9baBiyS on S Il H Of iRe
seeds in a given fig have ripened; These
and delicious flavor OF imported figs. Il Is be-
iieyed by br y Etsen, Mr.: flooding And others
tempts by Mr.; ,R6SedinG and J. &, Shinn q Niles
to establish tho insect have failed. although
c~apritgs containing, them in living condition
were brought to California, The Department
OF, Agriculture is now to make the attempt on
Dr.. Howard visited California in the spring OF
the present year for the purpose. OF ascertain
ing the exact conditions, the points at which
introduction would be most likely, to be sue
cessIul, and to learn whether additional plant
ing OF either Smyrna figs or caprtflgS was desi-
the important task. he found ti' a remaFf taPle con
Fresno a are growing "a 1000 smyrna dg trees Of
large size: and running through tho cen ,t Of 81
the OfCnafu Is row OF ZDJtaprlnEb Al MICS, III
the nursery Of Mr.. John Rock, are perhaps 200
and a number OF caprigs. Mr.. Rock has accom-
plished the Interesting feat Of grating the cap
fore been accomplished and which was consid-
cred impossible.
The department will attempt to introduce all
discoveTable varieties OF, tho capriig, and by
means OF its agent in Europe to bring over
the caprihg insect both in individual fruits and
In its native condition upon young growing
trees In tubs, and. although the subject pre-
sents many difficulties; and although certain
b~otanists believe that the problem Of c%aprihca.
ton is not thoroughly understood, Mr.. Howard
expressed the hope that In the near future the
Introduction and establishment OF the insect
will have been satisfactorily accomplished.