Notes Upon Plums. 177 



two directions. The specific treatment for the disease is to spray 

 with Bordeaux mixture, applied in about the same manner as for 

 the leaf-bUght fungus. The treatment of this disease is more 

 specifically explained in our Bulletin 86. 



The recent incursion of the plum scale in western New York, 

 which has created so much alarm, is fully treated in our Bulletin 

 83. This insect, although formidable, may be kept in check 

 almost completely by thorough sprayings with strong kerosene 

 emulsion in the winter time. 



There still remains the curculio, or the insect which is the par- 

 ent of the worms in the fruit. A full report upon this insect may 

 be expected at a future time. It is enough for the present pur- 

 pose to say that the mature beetle lays the eggs in the fruits when 

 they are very small, usually beginning its work about as soon as 

 the flowers fall. These eggs soon hatch and the little maggot 

 bores into the fruit. Those fruits which are attacked whilst very 

 young ordinarily fall from the tree, but those which are attacked 

 when they are half or more grown may adhere to the tree but 

 are wormy and gummy at the picking time. The mature beetles 

 are sluggish in the mornings and are easily j arred from the trees. 

 Taking advantage of this fact, the fruit grower may jar them into 

 sheets or a large canvas hopper which is wheeled from tree to 

 tree upon a wheelbarrow-like frame and under the apex of which 

 is a tin can into which the insects roll. One of these hopper 

 machines is seen in Fig. 39. There is a slit or opening in one side 

 of the hopper which allows the tree to stand nearly in the middle 

 of the canvas. The operator then gives the tree two or three 

 sharp jars with a padded pole or mallet. The edges of the hop- 

 per are then quickly shaken with the hands and the insects roll 

 down into the tin receptacle. In this receptacle there is kerosene 

 oil, or it may be emptied from time to time. Just how long this 

 machine is to be run in the orchard will depend entirely upon cir- 

 cumstances. It is advisable to use the catcher soon after the 

 blossoms fall for the purpose of finding out how abundant the 

 insects are. If a few insects are caught upon each tree, there is 

 indication that there are enough of the pests to make serious 

 trouble. If after a few days the insects seem to have disappeared, 



