306 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



required to reach maturity, would make it necessary to greatly 

 prolong the contest to be as effectual. Covering the fruit and 

 tree with soot from burning coal tar might make it so offensive to 

 them, as to drive them to some other tree or orchard, but whether 

 it would be possible to use enough, even of this disgusting stuff 

 to drive away an iusect so totally depraved in taste as to relish 

 the wild, bitter crab apple is a question. As remarked in regard 

 to the use of poisonous compounds to kill the plum Curculio, 

 which is now recommended for the codling moth and has been 

 indorsed by some of our leading fruit growers and even entomol- 

 ogists, there seems to be no reason to suppose that this remedy 

 would be any less effectual with the apple Curculio than with the 

 others mentioned. It may be possible also to furnish the beetles 

 with inviting shelter, near at hand, for winter quarters and then 

 to destroy home and occupant. Tho3e afflicted with this and 

 other pests should carefully observe their habits and try all pos- 

 sible, practical means to effect their destruction. 



The Pea Weevil — Bruchus pisi — All who are interested in 

 gardening, or who use dry peas are more or less acquainted with 

 "buggy peas." Their presence in the mature pea, when ground 

 and used for cooking purposes or for planting, is regarded with 

 anything but favor ; and the sight of a few peas that have been 

 inhabited by the bug, as it is usually called, often causes the re- 

 jection of the whole lot with disgust, but this same inseet in the 

 larva state is unconsciously eaten in large numbers by the most 

 fastidious, and with great relish. Surely "ignorance is bliss" to 

 the lover of " roast lamb and green peas," for did he realize what 

 is in a great measure true of every mess of green peas grown in 

 this state, except in the extreme northern portion, that at least 

 one half of them are inhabited by a worm which in time would 

 develop into one of these bugs, it would not add greatly to the 

 flavor of the dish. It cannot be said that their presence really 

 detracts from the flavor or is in any way harmful to the eater, yet 

 most epicures would prefer to take their soup clear from them. 

 Aside from greater pleasure and confidence in the use of peas in 

 the green state, where they are not infested by the weevil it 

 would add much to the value of the dry, mature pea whether to 



