THE KANSAS CHERRY. 



86' 



CURCULIO IN CHERRIES. 



By H. E. Summers, State Entomologist, Ames, Iowa. 



The "white worms" usually found in cherries are the larva; of the 

 plum curculio {Conotrachehis nenuphar), which seem to be quite 

 as fond of cherries as of the plum. It does not cause the cherry to 

 drop, however, as is usually the case with the plum, but the nearly 

 full-grown larvae are found in the ripe fruit when it is picked. 



The only treatment is to destroy the beetles before they have laid 

 their eggs in the young fruit. This treatment must be applied not 



only to the cherry but to the plum, and, 

 to be entirely effective, to the peach, nec- 

 tarine, and apricot, where these are grown . 

 The tree must be sprayed at least three 

 times, and four is better. The first be- 

 fore the flower-buds open, the second 

 immediately after the blossoms have 

 fallen, the third ten or twelve days later, 

 and the fourth about two weeks later still. 

 For the curculio alone the application 

 may be, Paris green 1 pound, fresh lime 

 1 pound, water 200 gallons. As, how- 

 ever, cherries are subject to rot and leaf diseases, which may be largely 

 prevented by the use of Bordeaux mixture, it is much better to apply 

 the Paris green in conjunction with this fungicide. The combined 

 mixture consists of copper sulphate 4 pounds, quicklime 4 pounds, 

 Paris green 4 ounces, water (one barrel) 40 to 50 gallons. 



Dissolve the copper sulphate (bluestone) by suspending it into a 

 wooden or earthen vessel containing four or five or more gallons of 

 water. Slake the lime in another vessel. If the lime, when slaked, 

 is lumpy or granular, it should be strained through coarse sacking 

 or a fine sieve. Pour the copper sulphate solution into a barrel, or 

 it may be dissolved in this in the first place ; half fill the barrel with 

 water, add the slaked lime ; fill the barrel with water, and stir thor- 

 oughly ; it is then ready for use. 



Stock solutions of dissolved copper sulphate and of lime may be 

 prepared and kept in separate covered barrels throughout the spray- 

 ing season. The quantities of bluestone, lime and water should be 

 carefully noted. 



«, larva; 6, pupa; c, adult; (/, a plum 

 showing puncture and crescent. 



