200 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



even while mated, in mid air. The greater necessity for destroying 

 the fill Ion, imperfect fruit is the fact that the gouger frequently 

 makes its transformation within the pits of both the plum and 

 peach. 



Mr. Galusha, of Illinois — It is understood with us in Illinois, 

 that no one man can rid himself of curculio, unless his neighbors 

 all do the same thing, because they will go from orchard to orchard. 



Mr. Hudson, of Louisiana — We in the South have attempted to 

 raise peaches, and when we have succeeded in making good crops, 

 the season having been favorable, we have found our efforts de- 

 stroyed by the curculio. I have read a gread deal on the subject,, 

 and while I agree fully with Mr. Galusha, that the extermination 

 of this pest can only be brought about by cooperation, I wish to 

 say that it is not so easy a thing in this section of the country where 

 our population is very much scattered. We are separated from each 

 other by small pieces of timber land, and when the curculio is 

 driven out from an orchard it takes refuge in the pine lands and is 

 preserved there. In consequence, you will perceive that there is no 

 method of destroying them here. I desire to ask one question, and 

 if there is any practical pear grower here who knows, of his own 

 knowledge, I ask him, as a special favor to the South, whether 

 there be actually any method of applying coal gas tar that is worth 

 the trouble ? 



Mr. Baldwin, of Michigan — I will say that I can not tell which 

 of the remedies I have used that has succeeded; perhaps all. This 

 year I began with sulphur, but I did not use a great deal of it. Then 

 I used the coal gas tar, and then at night I burnt lights standing in 

 vessels of water. In the morning I found a great many curculios, 

 attracted by the light, that were drowned. I burnt lights for about 

 four weeks. The curculio is a night-flying insect, and you catch a 

 great many. I think we have got to catch and kill them in some 

 way, and I am satisfied that we can raise plums by using these 

 methods. 



Mr. Sambola, of Louisiana — I desire to give to the convention 

 my views on this subject. I now possess a place in this city, where 

 my father has devoted fully twenty years in destroying the insects 

 which have prevented the successful cultivation of the grape He 



