Discussion on Insects. 199 



destructive to friends than to foes; whether, in our poisons, traps and lanterns 

 we are not killing the " goose that lays the golden egg." This is the part that 

 science must perform in the solution of this great problem, though scientific 

 knowledge alone will never rid our orchards and gardens of insect pests. 



DISCUSSION ON INSECTS. 



Jlr. Stojjiebeam, of Illinois — We try iu ray country to raise plums, 

 but we find the curculio very injurious. If it is not out of place I 

 would, if there is any lady or gentleman in this audience that has 

 had any success in raising plums, like to hear from them. 



Mr. Holsinger, of Kansas — In answer to the gentleman's inquiry, I 

 will say that I had hoped that this question had been settled. To my 

 mind it certainly is. Plum growing, through the knowledge dissemi- 

 nated bv our advanced horticulturists, is a certainty to all those who 

 may follow the methods for trapping and destroying the curculio. It 

 is but little expense to secure a crop annually of this most delicious 

 fruit. To be successful, you must begin in time. As soon as the 

 blossoms are shed secure some wide muslin, sufficient to cover the 

 surface occupied by the largest tree. Cut in two equal lengths; sew 

 up one-half the length, joining the two together in one broad sheet. 

 You are now ready for work. With the aid of three boys, ages 

 from eight to twelve, I have been able, in a few hours, to clean two 

 hundred trees. The boys run under the trees, spreading the cloth, 

 the tree in the middle of the sheet through the part not sewed to- 

 gether. Now, with the ball of the foot, give a few quick, ener- 

 getic kicks. (I never injured more than one tree in this way.) A 

 rubber mallet might be better. An open mouthed bottle will be 

 found serviceable to drop them into ; or, they can be crushed be- 

 tween the thumb and forefinger. All fallen fruit should be picked 

 up and destroyed, and in this way the crop materially les.sened. 

 The plum goug^r, Anthonomus prwnjcida, Walsh, lias been, of late 

 years, more deleterious to plum culture than the curculio. '' It may 

 be easily distinguished from other weevils by its ochre-yellow 

 throat and legs, and its darker wing covers, which are dun colored 

 or brown, with a leaden gray tint, and has no humps." I do not 

 agree with most entomologists that it is more difficult to capture 

 than the curculio. I think it drops as readily with a slight jarring, 

 but I admit it takes wing more readily. I have caught them, 



