MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



fact can be easily captured. They are found upon most stone fruit, 

 and the cherry is often attacked by them. The cherrj'' often remains 

 hanging until fully ripened, and thus the presence of the insect may be 

 overlooked. 



In the apple and pear they are also found, but the egg seldom 

 hatches. 



They are a native of this country, and during the past have fed 

 npon our wild plums. 



Remedies — The curculio, when suddenly alarmed, folds its legs 

 close to its body, folding its snout under its body, and falls to the 

 ground feigning death. Owing to this pecularity they can easily be 

 captured by spreading a clcth upon the ground and slightly jarring the 

 tree. They fall upon the cloth and may be readily seen and picked 

 up. I use a wide mouthed bottle with a glass stopper to receive them, 

 as crushing between thum and finger becomes painful when they are 

 very plentiful. In capturing the insects, take several strips of muslin 

 large enough to span the tree ; sew up one-half the length of the cen- 

 ter strip, and tack each edge of your cloth to light strips of wood ; now 

 pass your cloth under the tree with the tree in the center, spreading it 

 out so that the cloth will be under two branches ; then jar the tree with 

 the ball of the foot (no danger of injury to the tree if care is used) ; 

 be active, as the insects soon leave oif feigning death and take to wing. 

 To guard your orchards you should begin making your captures as soon 

 as the trees are in blossom. 1 have never yet been too soon for them. 

 When the fruit is far advanced they take their departure to other pas- 

 tures. Frequently the apple is made to feel their attention. 



There are many remedies given to guard against the curculo, but 

 none so efficient or simple as the cloth. All others are unsatisfactory 

 in some particulars. 



Ihe Gouger. — What I have said on the curculio will apply pretty 

 generally to the gouger. 



This beetle is larger than the curculio, with smooth wing covers. 

 The snout is longer than the thorax and projects downward, but can- 

 not be folded under the breast as in the plum curculio. It makes its 

 appearance about the same time in the spring as the curculio. 



Instead of making a crescent-shaped slit in the fruit, it bores 



a round hole. It is also an American insect, having lived formerly on 



wild plums. It is single-brooded and passes the winter in beetle state. 



It feeds on fruits of all kinds, although it has a preference for stone 



fruits. 



With its snout it drills a hole such as might be made with a hot 

 needle, the hole being round and surrounded by a black margin. 



