NOTES ON NOXIOUS INSECTS. 451 



not tried this method suflEiciently as yet to recommend it. After another 

 year I can speak definitely as to its practicability and value. 



THE PLUM CURCULIO. 



As is well known, the apples in certain sections of our country are very 

 grievously deformed, almost to ruination, by a curculionid which stings the 

 fruit in May and June. Wisconsin, especially, has suffered serious injury of 

 this kind, as shown in the deformed, gnarly fruit shown from that State at 

 Grand Eapids in 1885. The insect which works this destruction has been 

 referred to in the public press as the plum gouger Cocoiorus scutellaris, Lee. 

 {A^ithonomus jjrunicida, Walsh), and also as the apple curculio, A^itJionomus 

 quadrigibbus, Say. While in attendance upon the Wisconsin Institutes last 

 winter, I arranged with several of the leading horticulturists of that State, 

 to furnish me with some of these curculionids. Last June I received a large 

 nmber, and what was my surprise to find that they were our old enemy, the 

 plum curculio, Conotrochelus nenuphar, Herbst. Since then I have made 

 investigation in Michigan, where I find the "Little Turk" equally guilty. 

 From what I have observed, it would seem that this weevil prefers the plum, 

 and will attack that to the almost entire exclusion of the cherry, apple, 

 peach, etc., if it can consult its own choice. But in the absence of the plum, 

 these other fruits suffer attack, and are ruined. An orchard with many 

 scattering plum trees, showed no curculio traces on its apples, pears and 

 cherries. One twenty rods distant, with no p)um trees, showed many of the 

 characteristic " crescents " on apples and pears, while another similar one 

 nearly a mile distant, showed still more of the scars and doformities which 

 attend the punctures of the plum curculio. 



From these observations I believe it will pay every orchardist to mingle 

 plum among his apple, peach and cherry trees. This will lure the curculio 

 from these trees, and by a faithful practice of the jarring method at the 

 same time, secure a bountiful harvest in his plum crop. As the plum is a 

 short lived tree, it will be necessary to replant often, but the quick, early 

 fruitage of tbese trees is no small compensation for this frequent planting. 



LONDON PURPLE. 



In 1880, the year that this society was organized, I showed that London 

 purple and Paris green were safe and effectual specifics against the coddling 

 moth. Each year gives added proof of the value of this remedy. I have 

 only a few suggestions to urge in this relation at this time : First. London 

 purple is to be preferred to Paris green. It is more easily mixed with water, 

 remains mixed longer, injures the foliage less, and is considerable cheaper 

 than is Paris green. To be sure, it is a little less strong in arsenic than is 

 Paris green, but the proportion is so high that we still get more arsenic for 

 the same money in London purple than in Paris green. White arsenic, I 

 think, should never be used. It is not much cheaper than London purple, 

 and from its color, accident is much more likely to attend its use. 



Second. The London purple should be used early, before the apples are 

 larger than peas, or as soon as the blossoms are well off the trees. If 

 deferred later many of the larvae will have passed into the fruit, and so 

 escape harm. Thus early, one application is usually quite satisfactory. If 



