The state entomologist. 15 



Scarcely feigning death at all. Indeed, with the exception of such 

 females as are busily occupied in depositing eggs, most of the Cur- 

 culios rest during the day, sheltered either by the foliage or branches 

 of the tree, or by any extraneous substance on the ground near by. 

 They are also more active in the evening than in the morning, and 

 these facts lead us to the important question, whether the morning 

 or the evening is the best time to jar the trees. My experiments so 

 far are not conclusive, for I have some days caught more in the morn- 

 ing, and at others more in the evening. All other things being equal, 

 the evening will prove preferable to the morning, from there being 

 less dew at that time ; and I particularly draw attention to this mat- 

 ter now, that the proper experiments may be instituted during the 

 coming year by more than one individual. 



THE RANSOM CHIP-TRAP PROCESS. 



Another grand and successful mode of fighting the little Turk 

 was also brought to light again, and to a great extent practiced the 

 past summer. I allude to the Ransom chip process for entrapping 

 this insect. About the middle of May the Horticultural world was 

 •startled by a somewhat sensational article, which was the burden of 

 an extra to the St. Joseph (Michigan) Herald, headed : — "Great Dis- 

 covery — Curculio Extermination 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 se- 

 crete 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 noctural in their 

 habits, the beetles naturally seek shelter during the day, and espe- 

 cially is this the case early in the season, when the days are chilly, 

 and before the females are too much engaged in egg depositing. Nu- 

 merous opinions were 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 ex- 

 pressed have been so far fully corroborated by subsequent experience. 

 Let it be distinctly understood that in recording what I believe to be 

 the facts in the case,'! [have no wish to detract one particle from the 

 credit due Mr. Ransom, for bringing this method prominently before 

 the people, and demonstrating its practical applicability; for to him 

 undoubtedly belongs the honor of the re-discovery and of the proper 

 application of the method : 



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

 person or persons, when enlisted in such a good cause, but truth ob- 

 liges us to do so, nevertheless. Of course Curculio extermination is 

 possible ! but notby 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 



