THE CURCULIO. 223 



that the pear-trees last spring did not come out with blos- 

 soms. There were not many fruit-buds made the previous 

 year, and those tliat were produced were not very strong. 

 They did not set well (and there were three insects to every 

 pear), and the fruit was not very handsome. I think the 

 same reasoning will apply to pears as well as grapes. You 

 will find next spring, however, that your pear-trees will be 

 all perfectly white with blossom^ ; that is, I judge, from my 

 own locality, where there is scarcely a wood-bud to be found. 

 They are nearly all fruit-buds. They have evidently nob 

 been starved for lack of water the past season. 



The curculio. Of him I think I may say to almost any- 

 body who does not grow stone fruits (I do not know but it 

 is stating it rather strong), that I look upon him as an al- 

 most unmitigated blessing. I will tell you why. If it were 

 not for the curculio, you would have such an apple-crop in 

 bearing years, that your trees would all break down and be 

 ruined. He is the best friend we have, in this respect ; for 

 he thins out our apples and pears wonderfully, — thins them 

 out early, and saves us a vast amount of labor ; and my feel- 

 ing is that I will not disturb him. I shall let him alone. 



Mr. Whitaker. How is it when he takes the whole 

 crop — does not thin them out, but takes the whole? 



Dr. Fisher. He does not take the whole of the apple or 

 pear crop, in my experience, in bearing years. 



Mr. Whitaker. He takes all the plums. 



Dr. Fisher. He will take all the plums. I have headed 

 him off there. I formerly planted a large number of plum- 

 trees, but became disgusted, and took them all up. 



Mr. Whitaker. That is a mitigated blessing. 



Dr. Fisher. Last year I planted one j)lum-tree in the 

 centre of my poultry-yard; and I have no doubt I shall get 

 some plums, and still retain the blessing for the rest of my 

 premises. Any person desiring to grow stone fruits will find 

 the curculio to be his greatest enem}^ : in fact, in the ab- 

 sence of any serious effort to conquer him, the crops will 

 amount to very little. I should have no fear of defeat if 

 that were my business ; but, as I have had no special experi- 

 ence, it is not worth while to devote any time to it. 



Then there comes the web-worm. Everybody knows him 

 by that name. He spins a web over pears and apples during 



