SUCCESSFUL CURCUUO PRACTICE. 



hill, and the whole soil kept loose and mellow by faithful cultivation, the roots will extend 

 to a great distance, much to the advantage of the fruit that sets latest, and to the amount 

 of the crop. And this holds good not only with this vine, but all its congeners. The na- 

 tural habit of the roots of this class of vegetable productions, is to reach far in all direc- 

 tions. This the cultivator should assist and encourage; if he does not he will interfere 

 with his own reward for his industry. Let the bulk of his manure be spread over the 

 whole ground, and then place sufficient in a hill so that the vegetable body may never one 

 moment of its existence fail to expand itself for want of nourishment. If a plant, in the 

 early stages of its life, w^ants for a few days only, its proper sustenance, it will never fully 

 recover from the effects of the misfortune. A want of nutrition, also, at the time the 

 fruit begins to forni and mature, is still more destructive, and that fertilizer which was 

 spread broadcast over the soil, now comes to the rescue .and ensures success. 



The labor we have referred to, maj'^ appear large to be bestowed on one item of the gar- 

 den; perhaps it is so. Yet it will abundantly repay every step taken, and every finger 

 lifted. Six weeks of melons in abundance, for ourselves and friends, is worth twice the 

 efforts needed for their production. 



I think it was nine years since, that I began to experiment with the Yellow Flesh ^lelon, 

 with a view to improve its size. I began with specimens weighing six or seven pounds, 

 and ended the last season with a crop averaging between twenty and thirty pounds. 

 I would leave but one fruit on a vine, which would become large. From the seeds of this 

 improved specimen, I would plant the next year, and this operation repeat every season. 

 The gain was gradual for several years, and then became more rapid. The last year the 

 improvement in size was greatest. The melons were grown in open culture, planted about 

 the 20th M-Aj. The flavor of this melon has not deteriorated, nor can I perceive in that 

 matter, any change. For productiveness and easy cultivation, I know of nothing better 

 than the Christiana. For excellence of flavor, the Citron has no superior. If there is a 

 better water-melon than the Black Spanish, I have not been able to find it. 



SUCCESSFUL CURCULIO PRACTICE. 



BY O., OAVEGO, N. Y. 



Me. Downing — Dear Sir: I send you an account of the method I have successful- 

 ly practiced during eight years, in protecting my plums from the depredations of the cur- 

 culio. 



I will first mention some facts relative to the habits and natural history of that destruc- 

 tive insect, the knowledge of which I acquired, part by observation, and partly by reading 

 an article on insects from the pen of the lamented Willis Gaylord. 



Generally, as soon as the plum has attained the size of a full grown currant, the curcu- 

 lio ascends [or flies to, Ed.] the tree, and, making a semilunar puncture in the plum, de- 

 posits an egg in it; commonly only one egg is deposited in a plum, but sometimes two eggs 

 are found in the same plum. These eggs become larvae or grubs, that feed on the pulp of 

 the plum, which finally causes the plum to fall to the ground before it is ripe. After the 

 maggot or larvas, as the embryo insect is frequently called, attains a sufficient size, it 

 crawls out of the plum, goes into the earth, stays there about twenty-one days, and comes 



perfect insect. These new insects ascend the tree, either by climbing or 

 ptuicture the plums and deposit their eggs. These eggs become larvse, feed on the 



