97. As has already been stated, the first introduction of Blastophaga psenes was made by Mr. Shinn, at Niles, but want of sufficient caprifigs for their propagation made the venture a failure. There was at the time only one caprifig tree on the place. This tree had just finished shedding a crop of ripe caprifigs, of which only a dozen ripe figs yet remained on the tree. But there was absolutely no sign of a succeeding crop, and the hatching Blastophaga had no caprifigs in which to lay their eggs. The insects would then naturally perish, as they could not possibly survive until a new crop of figs could attain proper size. It is absolutely necessary to the welfare of the wasps that they should immediately upon their hatching have new caprifigs of proper size in which to lay their eggs. If these new figs are not found on the same tree from which the wasps hatch they must be present on other trees in the vicinity. The failure of the first importation of Blastophaga to California can therefore not be wondered at. With only one caprifig tree and that one bearing only one crop a year, this importation could not possibly have been a success.
98. The most interesting and astonishing discovery of parthenogenesis in the wild fig was first made by D. Cunningham on the various forms of flowers of Ficus Roxburghii. His experiments and observations on the flowers of this fig species, both before and after the access of the Bias- tophagas, show conclusively that parthenogenesis takes place in this species and that the Blastophaga is necessary not only to produce seed in the female flowers, but also to perfect the male flowers. For a full account of this see his work: D. D. Cunningham, on the Phenomena of Fertilization in Ficus Roxburghii, Wall. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, Vol. I.
99. Seedlings would invariably have a tendency to bring male flowers in the fig. - Gustav Eisen,
Biological Studies On Figs, Caprifigs And Caprification (p. 897)
