Historical introduction of Smyrna and Capri figs to Grahamstown in 1902/03?

Here's an old article I found ("Caprification of Smyrna Figs") in the South African Agricultural Journal, published some time in 1911(?):

http://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/ajusa/3/2/103.pdf?expires=1533667986&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=DEFAEAF7BC1C29816BB59BF2093CA1DB

The article can be downloaded as a 10 page PDF from this link.

See page 254:

"...

On hearing of the success in California, the Cape Department of Agriculture was not long in getting an importation of trees direct from Mr Geo. C Roeding, which consisted of a parcel of 140 Smyrna and Capri trees of different varieties (Calimyrna, Kassaba and Bardacik, mostly Calimyrna, and Capri's No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, which three varieties keep on them figs all the year round. This was in 1902/03.

Two lots went to Constantia District, one to Elsenburg, and one to Grahamstown.

In July 1907, Mr Lounsbury, then Chief Government Entomologist of the Cape, but now Chief Entomologist of the Union, was in America, and as both our Capri and Calimyrna had reached fruiting stage, he arranged to have some of the Blastophaga sent on at the right season. In November 1907, Mr Mally, Assistant Government Entomologist (Cape), on his return from California, got four twigs of Capri from Mr Roeding with fruit containing wasps. They were wrapped in damp moss and kept chilled until landing on 4th January 1908.

..."

It's not clear who or what in Grahamstown received the "one lot" (presumably about 35) of smyrna and capri fig trees imported from the USA, let alone what happened to them? Clearly the fig wasp could have been introduced at any time after the Grahamstown trees were established. I suppose evidence is that the fig wasp still seems to be around, more than a century after all these happenings, even though wild (or cultivated) caprifigs aren't obviously visible around town...

The article also gives a useful table of the observed emergence of the wasps at Elsenburg, but it's not specified for which variety of caprifig:

1st crop Profichi                    Enter 2nd week of September
                                               Emerge 2nd week of January                       4 months

2nd crop Mammoni               Enter 2nd week of January
                                               Emerge 2nd week of March                          2 months

3rd crop Mammae                 Enter 2nd week of March
                                               Emerge 2nd week of September                   6 months

                                                                                                                   [12 months]

Presumably there's a time spread of emergence according to the variety of caprifig?

The Smyrna or San Pedro type figs will need to be receptive during the wasp emergence.

It's not clear if this 12 month cycle involves all 3 types of caprifig, or whether one fig type will sustain the wasp lifecycle?

[Please, if anyone has more information or references, leave a comment?]

What happened to Witsa runner beans?

As I've posted before, I've hunted high and low for this runner bean for more than three months - in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, George, and Cape Town - to no effect. It's completely unavailable, with no why or wherefore. Which is a pity, because it's the only runner worth growing. Over my dead body will Lazy Housewife pollute my trellises again - it's a nasty horrible bean.

Well, I got an explanation of sorts today from the guy at Sunnyside Nursery - apparently Witsa has been recalled because of some or other mislabelling issue. He had to send back all his stock to the seed company.

The unanswered question, really, is how the heck? Is that the real reason? And when will it become available again? Have we missed a whole season?

Anybody with more details, please enlighten me?

Update 2016/09/06:

Still not available in Grahamstown.

I've been making do with Contender bush beans.

Update 2019/10/09:

Still not available in local nurseries or other places that sell seed.

BUT, I've been able to buy some from Livingseeds, who have come up with another, real [?] explanation, namely that the sole commercial supplier had died, with no-one to take over the business from him, leading to a hiatus in the supply chain.

Can anyone confirm or deny these stories? Or come up with another explanation?

Anyway, after about 5 years, I'm back in business!

Hybrid Squash Star 8080 - patty pan II?

Planted 3 seeds in open ground. Claims 50 days to harvest, so should be eating these by Xmas?

Update 2015/11/28:

They didn't germinate, so planted four more in a seed box this afternoon. Three seeds left in packet.

Update 2015/12/06:

Still no signs of germination. Mark this one down in the book of failure to do anything at all except waste time.

Update 2015/12/13:

One seedling. Let's see if more come up. Two weeks to germinate seems quite a long time.

Update 2015/12/20:

Two seedlings - at last - from the three seeds planted in open ground. That's five weeks to germinate?

Update 2016/01/28:

Flowering while still quite small - might be better suited to tyres?