196 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Fig. 5.— The Plum Curculio. 



The following extract is from Bulletin 52, Ontario Bureau of Industries, Toronto, 

 November 20th, 1894 : 



" Gosfield, S., Essex : There have been a few local tests of spraying apple trees. 

 Where they have been sprayed three or four times at intervals the results have been 

 almost marvellous — large, line, clean, almost perfect fruit, — packers from Huron County 

 say the best they have ever handled. On orchards near by not sprayed there have 

 been but few apples gathered, and these hardly worth the name, being little, gnarled, 

 wormy and scabby." 



The Plum Curculio (Conotrachehis nenuphar, 

 Herbst, fig. 5.) — Plums and apples in some districts, 

 have been severely attacked during the season, but pea- 

 ches less than usual, by the Plum Curculio. Owing to 

 the enormous crop of peaches, the limited destruction by 

 the curculio and rot is thought by Mr. Craig to have been 

 a benefit to the main crop. A great many letters have 

 been received from Ontario and Quebec, complaining of 

 the work of this weevil on plums. Its depreda- 

 tions on apples were also noted. Mr. T. W. Ramm, 

 writing from Ross Mount, Ont., on August 24, says : — 

 " I send you the worst specimen of an apple that has 

 ever been seen on my place, and I had hundreds about 

 as bad, that either fell off early or I removed them from the tree myself. Much of 

 this injury I attribute to the curculio ; there being no plums, the curculio stings the 

 apples, and it is ten times worse than the Codling Moth, for it makes apples gnarled, 

 bitter, hard and woody, in fact, utterly worthless. The experience of this year satisfies 

 me that we must spray or cut down our trees." 



Mr. Robert Jack, of Chateauguay, Quebec, gives the names of the following varie- 

 ties as being particularly subject to injuries by the curculio : Duchess, Yellow Trans- 

 parent, Grimes's Golden. 



Although opinions differ as to the extent of immunity of a crop sprayed with Paris 

 green from attack by the Plum Curculio, there is, no doubt, sufficient benefit to make 

 this method still the cheapest and most practical. The following letter is from Mr. 

 G. W. Cline, of Winona, Ont., probably one of the most extensive and successful plum 

 growers in Ontario : — 



" December 19. — My crop of plums was saved this season by spraying five times with 

 3 ounces Paris green to a 40 gallon barrel of water kept well stirred. I usually spray 

 from four to six times, according to the wetness of the season, beginning at the time the 

 covering of the young plum is just bursting open, never before, as I find the curculio does 

 not begin to bite before warm weather, which begins about that time. I have always 

 saved my crop for some twelve years, when I have sprayed at proper time and kept it 

 up as required, and would not return to the jarring process again under any considera- 

 tion. I never use any lime with Paris green, and never had but a few cases of trees 

 scorched on one side, when the men were sucking the water too close to the bottom of 

 the barrel, which had not been properly stirred. If the mixture is kept well stirred, I 

 find no trouble in saving my crop always from the curculio." 



Mr. James Stewart, of Meaford, Ont., writes : — " I have sprayed my plums for two 

 or three years, and I have found a great benefit in so doing. Last spring I sprayed 

 when the fruit was nicely formed, and a second time in about two weeks. As a result, 

 I had a splendid crop of plums. I am certain there was not a pint of plums fell from 

 the trees, and I know that some of my neighbours who did not spray, lost nearly all 

 their plums." 



