PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 345 



smoothly on the ground, and, if large enough, equally under all 

 the branches. 



If the trees in your orchard are young, a sheet six or eight 

 feet square will answer ; full grown plum or apricot trees will 

 require one, ten or twelve feet. The canvasafixed, the next 

 thing is to get your enemy upon it; this is done not by shaking 

 the tree, hut jarri7ig it suddenly. If it is small, the palm of the 

 hand answers the purpose, three or four taps are enough ; large 

 trees require a mallet, it would soon become painful to the hand. 

 Remember, however, that the tree must not be struck directly 

 with a mallet, you would cause a bruise that would be a serious 

 injury. Saw ofi" a stout branch, leaving a stump one or two 

 inches long, and if you will pare off the edges of this stump so 

 as to present a convex surface, it will bear the blows of the mal- 

 let longer; and, by careful management, you make it last the 

 whole season. 



The beginner, in the pursuit of the curculio, will often over- 

 look them as they lay on the sheet. The little thing folds itself 

 up so closely and so quiet as to be readily mistaken for the dried 

 buds that are falling from the trees at this time; but in a few 

 days the eye becomes experienced, and the instinct that teaches 

 them to escape observation by being so still, soon ceases to avail 

 them. 



The next thing is the crushing process, between the thumb 

 and the finger. Like other beetles, the curculio is hard and 

 crisp, and requires some force to mash it. 



Some people have a conscience about the killing of insects — 

 we have. We would not kill a spider nor an humble bee ; 

 neither of them would do us any harm if let alone, and we know 

 they are useful. 



The fruits are not only luxuries, but have become a part of 

 the necessaries of life; the curculio would take them all with- 

 out any hesitation, if she wanted them. Man was created with 

 dominion, and we think, in this case, is justified in pronouncing 

 against her ; and whenever we get a curculio fairly between the 

 thumb and the finger, we carry out this decision. 



By observations carried on through a series of years, it has 

 been found that the curculio commences upon the apricot about 

 the middle of May, and a week or ten days later on the plum 

 and nectarine. 



