THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



183 



curculios, just after the blossoms were 

 nicely off, were busily working in great 

 numbers, and with a doggish persever- 

 ance. We got our spraying pump, and 

 in a pail of water placed about a small 

 tablespoonful of Paris green, and by 

 rapid motion with a stick mixed the 

 powder completely into the water, and 

 proceeded to force the mixture on to 

 the leaves and the fruit in liberal quan- 

 tities, until the trees were pretty well 

 besprinkled and bedewed in every part. 

 The result was the insects were at once 

 deterred in their work of biting the 

 plums and laying their eggs in them. 

 It seemed to stop them almost imme- 

 diately. The philosophy of this may 

 be apparent from the following con- 

 siderations : — First, it is clear that the 

 curculios do eat or bite the plums, and 

 so may get some of the poisons applied 

 into their systems while at work pro- 

 viding positions for egg-laying under 

 the lip formed by their mandibles or 

 pinchei-s. But secondly, it may be 

 possible, and quite probable, that that 

 indescribable something which we call 

 instinct in insects, and which sufficiently 

 guides them to the selection of those 

 positions wliich will be safe and sup- 

 porting to their young, and which also 

 leads them to avoid those positions or 

 influences which might be dangerous or 

 deathly to their young, operated upon 

 them at that moment and caused them 

 either to leave the place at once or to 

 stop their work of egg-laying in that 

 position for tlie present. To make the 

 thing comparatively sure we again ap- 

 plied another dose in about two weeks 

 from the first, and the result is, we think 

 we have the crop safe, and the gi'eat 

 majority of the plums are now growing 

 nicely and appearing very promising. 

 The danger of poisoning from the use 

 of plums so treated is entirely obviated 

 by the frequent rains between the sea. 

 son of treatment and the time of using. 

 Arkona, Ont. 



REPORTS ON PLANTS RECEIVED. 



Dear Sir, — You will think perhaps 

 that it is for want of interest in the 

 Fruit Growers' Association that I have 

 not acknowledged receipt of premiums, 

 &c., but such is not the case, I value 

 too highly your publication not to 

 appreciate it, and I am too fond of fruit 

 growing and horticulture not to appre- 

 ciate your endeavours to place in the 

 members' hands the newest and most 

 reliable species of fruit and the choicest 

 of shrubs and flowers. But to my re- 

 port. 



The Fay's Prolific I received last 

 season made a magnificent growth and 

 this year has a good sample of fruit and 

 I am greatly pleased with it, and think 

 it is the finest red currant I have ever 

 fruited. The Lucretia Dewberry has 

 not yet shown life, but the one which 

 I got from an agent has thrown a few 

 sprouts and I think it is all right, as 

 also the Leib cherry and Schuyler Gage 

 plum which have both shown good 

 signs of vigor. 



I have two shrubs in my front garden 

 which I purchased years ago and had 

 them flower successfully in Elora and 

 on my removal to this place about five 

 years ago I brought them with me and 

 one, the Deutzia Crenata, had one 

 spike of flowers last season and although 

 it has more on this season it does not 

 seem to be vigorous. The other, Wigela 

 rosea, has never bloomed yet although 

 it appears healthy, of course they suffer 

 more or less from frost, and the climate 

 of this country is not suitable, and as 

 I have never seen it reported on from 

 this section I would like information on 

 the subject as it is a desirable shrub. I 

 wish to ask also if the Hydrangea pani- 

 culata grandiflora is hardy enough for 

 this locality, if so, give particulars as to 

 time to set out, tkc, and oblige. 



Now that I have made a start I will 

 try and liave a talk with you more fre- 

 quently to help promote the interests 



