450 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



advice here given by the amiable and long distinguished London 

 naturalist and antiquary, and besides numerous other preven- 

 tives, that have been recommended, during a period of more 

 than one hundred years, the curculio continues to increase, and 

 its depredations are more extended at this time than at any 

 former period. It is now known to attack the pear, apple, 

 cherry, plum, apricot, peach, and even the gooseberry, as we 

 have noticed the past season. And should these fruits fail in a 

 barren year to present themselves to the curculios, as recepta- 

 cles, in which to deposit their eggs, they would no doubt make 

 use of the terminal branches of the plum, or some other tree for 

 that purpose, like the copper colored weevil or curculio of 

 Europe, mentioned by Kollor in his treatise. The present year, 

 plums being scarce, I have noticed that the plum trees infested 

 with black warts, have been visited by the curculio, and these 

 excrescences have been very generally used as depositories for 

 its eggs. For many years the mischief caused by the insect 

 imder consideration, was supposed to be principally confined to 

 the plum and other stone fruit. But we have of late discovered 

 the crescent mark of the beetle upon our apples, that drop early 

 in the season. By some persons the premature dropping of the 

 fruit has been attributed principally to dry westerly winds ; but 

 we apprehend the chief cause of its falling thus early, is its being 

 punctured by the curculio. The best method of destroying this 

 insect, is frequently to pick up the fallen fruit. 



In noticing the apple worm or codling-moth, it may not be 

 necessary to give a scientific description, as this knowledge 

 would not particularly aid us in its destruction. Unlike the 

 curculio, it is not a native insect, but was introduced from 

 Europe, and has become completely naturalized in this country. 

 Its ravages are not now confined to our cultivated fruits, but it 

 has commenced its attack upon those that are indigenous. A 

 few years since we had a fine bed of cranberries nearly destroyed 

 by them. At that time being ignorant of their true character, 

 we sent the grub for examination to our late esteemed friend. 

 Dr. T. W. Harris, who pronounced it the apple worm. We 

 have seen these worms since upon cranberries growing on upland, 

 when they were not overflowed by water. The apple worm can 

 be destroyed, or its numbers greatly reduced by picking up the 



