■^12 HEPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



horticultural world was startled by a somewhat seusatioual 

 article which was the burden of an extra to the St. Joseph 

 (Mich.) Herald, headed "Great Discovery — Curculio Exter- 

 mination Possible." The process consists in laying close around 

 the butt of the tree, pieces of chips or bark, under which, 

 according to their instinct, a great many of the Curculios 

 secrete themselves during the day and may thus be easily 

 destroyed. Now that we better understand this insect's habits, 

 we also better comprehend the philosophy of this process. 

 Being nocturnal in their habits, the beetles naturally seek 

 shelter during the day, and especially is this the case early in 

 the season, when the days are chilly, and before the females 

 are too much engaged in egg-depositing. You are perhaps all 

 familiar with the numerous opinions expressed as to the value 

 and efficiency of this method; but I will here repeat my own 

 • as given to the readers of the American Entomologist and 

 Botanist, first, because I endeavored to be candid and truthful, 

 and, secondly, because the opinions expressed have been so 

 ifully corroborated by subsequent experience: 



■" We are really sorry to damp the ardor and enthusiasm of 

 any person or persons, when enlisted in such a good cause; but 

 truth obliges us to do so, nevertheless. Of course, Curculio 

 extermination is possible ! but not by the above method alone, 

 as our Michigan friends will find to their sorrow. For a short 

 time, early in the season, when the days are sometimes warm 

 and the nights cold, and before the peach blossoms have 

 withered away, we have succeeded in capturing Curculios 

 under chips of wood and other such sheltered situations; but 

 we have never been able to do so after the fruit was as large as 

 a hazel-nut, and the little Turk had got fairly to work. Our 

 Michigan friends will, we fear, find this to be too truly the 

 case. 



" This process, furthermore, cannot well be called a discovery, 

 because it was discovered several years ago, as the following item 

 from Moore's Rural Neiv Yorker, of January 28th, 1865, 

 will show : 



