22 



THE ZINFINDAL GRAPE— THE CURCULIO. 



temperature of 14° below zero was sufficient 

 to destroy the blossom buds of the peach, for 

 the situation of the thermometer was some 

 distance -below the line of level where the 

 blossoms were general. And perhaps were the 

 difference of elevation noted in the communi- 

 cation alluded to from Iowa, it might account 

 for so low a temperature not destroying the 

 peach buds there, particularly if the weather 

 was calm. We have noted here, even in sum- 



mer, that two thermometers, one situated about 

 40 feet above the other and less than 100 

 yards apart, both equally exposed, would in- 

 dicate a difference of 5 or 6°; the lower one 

 would show that much cooler temperature in 

 the morning, while at noon it would show that 

 much warmer, than the other. 

 I remain thy friend, 



Yardley Taylor 



Loudon Co., Va., 5th mo., 1S50. 



THE ZINFINDAL GRAPE— THE CURCULIO. 



BY G. GABRIEL, NEAV-HAVEN, CONN. 



In the June Horticulturist, page 568, I am 

 represented to have stated, with two other 

 gentlemen, that the Zinfindal grape is better 

 adapted to out-door culture in Connecticut 

 than the Isabella. This is a mistake. •I 

 have never entertained such an opinion. 



I have cultivated it several years in a cold- 

 house grapery, where it does well. I have 

 also seen it cultivated in the open air in this 

 city several years. It needs protection in 

 the winter, like the Miller's Burgundy, and 

 the fruit grows in a similar compact manner. 

 In the grapery, it requires severe thinning. 

 Mr. Allen recommends taking out eight of 

 every ten berries, which, however, I think, is 

 rather more than I have done. A grape 

 requiring so much attention, would be a 

 source of disappointment if recommended for 

 general cultivation. 



I am pleased to notice so many turning 

 their attention to the curculio. I am confi- 

 dent it will have to surrender its claim on the 

 plum. Indeed, it would be humiliating to 

 our superiority — standing at the head of ani- 

 mal creation — should the united pomological 

 forces of the country allow the ravages of 

 this little impertinent to continue. I am 

 trying several experiments this season, more 



simple and easy than the one I reported to 

 you last autumn, of which, if successful, I 

 will send you some notice in due time. 



My experiments at present are based upon 

 this simple theory, viz., that the curculio is 

 endowed with sufficient reason or instinct to 

 provide, like other animals, for the continu- 

 ance of its race, and will deposit its eggs only 

 where its young may reach the ground and 

 make their way into it.* If this be true, 

 paving, iron shavings, or a cloth suspended 

 from stakes under the tree, or anything else 

 that will prevent the young from entering 

 the ground, will determine the curculio not 

 to lay its eggs there. A gentleman told me 

 not long since that he had plum trees stand- 

 ing by the side of water, the branches of 

 which hung partly over the water and partly 

 over the dry ground, and that the fruit over 

 the water was never attacked by the curculio, 

 while that over the dry ground was ; so that 

 those not liking the other remedies may use 



* Any of your readers may call to mind other insects that 

 show the same sort of intelliffence. Why does the clumsy 

 parent of the canker worm climb from the eround fifly or a 

 hundred feet, to the ends of the branches of ihe loftiest elms, 

 to lay its efftts? Why, plandy. that its young- may be where 

 youn": and'tender leaves first appear. Who has tailed lo no- 

 tice the ingeimity of the honey-bee, building iu comb just in 

 that most capacious, and yet most compact form, demonstrated 

 by science to be the most perfect? The forecast ai\d cou- 

 trivance of many insects elicit our admiration aud wonder. 



