PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS CLUB. OO'J 



and there is no apparent difference. Mix them together, and you 

 cannot separate them. Thus, we think it may be considered as 

 fully proved, that the same insect that punctures our fruit causes 

 the black knot on the plum tree also. It seems both strange and 

 unnatural, but the insect world is full of wonders. 



We have stated that the n f, sometimes so destructive to the. 

 plum crop, is caused also b}^ the curculio. Some persons will 

 dispute this proposition, and tell you that it is the Aveather only. 

 We admit that the weather has much to do with it. A crop of 

 plums will he destroyed much sooner in hot wet weather (what is 

 called dogday weather) than Avhen the atmosphere is dry and 

 pure. We have seen beautiful crops of fruit almost ready for the 

 marliet, and when the OAvner Avas congratulating himself that he 

 was out of danger, disappear in a foAv days; and this is more 

 often the case Avith those kinds that grow in clusters and Avhere 

 many touch each other. The experienced fruit grower Avill watch 

 his trees closely at this season ; Avhere he sees a plum decayed, 

 or only a speck upon it, he Avill carefully punch it off Avith a pole 

 — and if his experience is like ours, he Avill find, that in the cen- 

 tre of Avhere the decay commenced, Avill be the crescent mark of 

 the curculio. If that plum remains upon the tree, all the others 

 that touch it, either directly or indirectly, Avill rot also sooner 

 or later, according to the AA^eather. Where the eggs of the cur- 

 culio are deposited in plums so nearly groAAm that the pits are 

 becoming hard, they seldom hatch. We suppose the acid of the 

 fruit at this time destroys the egg, and it in turn becomes a 

 poison to the fruit. This is our theory, and whether true or not, 

 the destruction of our plum crops is sometimes so great from this 

 cause, as to call for the closest attention. Watch your trees 

 ervery day, take off every specked plum at once ; some even now 

 Avill be found to have the grubs of the curculio in them; be care- 

 ful to destroy them. 



Much has been Avritten about the curculio in this country, but 

 most of it A^ery crudely. We have met Avith some of those Avriters 

 that have confessed never to have seen one. Had this insect 

 existed in Europe, it Avould, from its great importance, have been 

 thoroughly investigated by entomologists ; but here Ave have had 

 but few to devote their lives to this science, and our indigeuuous 

 insects are but little known. My own iuA^estigations until recently 

 Avere confined entirely to the means of preventing its ravages 



