82 DR. HARRIS'S REPORT. April, 



the kernel before the fruit is half grown ; and thus causes it to 

 fall prematurely. The maggot then easily escapes into the earth, 

 becomes a pupa, and returns to the surface in about three weeks. In 

 order to account for the occurrence of these insects in the limbs of 

 the trees, I will venture to give the following explanation, although, at 

 present, it rests only upon hypothesis. The final transformation of the 

 grubs, living in the fruit, appears to take place at various times during 

 the last of summer and the beginning of autumn, when the weevil, find- 

 ing no young fruit, is probably obliged to lay its eggs in the small bran- 

 ches. The larvae live in the branches during winter and are not 

 perfected till near the last of the ensuing June. Should the fall of 

 the fruit occur late in autumn the development of the perfect insects 

 will be retarded till the next spring ; and this I suppose to be the 

 origin of the brood which oviposits in fruit. It is a singular circum- 

 stance in the history of this insect, and one of which, hitherto, no 

 explanation has been offered, that some broods should attack the 

 limbs and others the fruit. In this is manifest the wisdom of the 

 Author of nature in -providing for a continuation of the species in 

 various contingencies. By this wonderful compensating contrivance 

 in its economy, this little entity is secure of an appropriate nidus for 

 its future progeny in sterile regions and unfruitful seasons. 



Such, in brief, are the habits of this insect, and these being 

 known, the way for successful experiment is opened. Not having 

 made any myself, it must be left to the ingenuity of others to devise 

 and point out a remedy against the injuries of this depredator. The 

 following, among others which have been suggested, may succeed. 



1. The diseased excrescences should be extirpated before the 

 last of June and be burned. 



2. All immature or wormy stone fruit should be collected as soon 

 as it falls, and should be boiled or steamed to kill the enclosed 

 larvae, after which they may be given to swine. 



The moose plum-tree, which grows wild in Maine, is never at- 

 tacked by this insect, even when in the immediate vicinity of diseased 

 foreign trees. It, therefore, would be the best of stocks for bud- 

 ding or engrafting upon. The fruit can be easily obtained from Maine, 

 and the trees grow rapidly from the stones. 



From the genus Rhynchaenus have been separated those insects 



