270 The Curculio. 



true. It is quite common to have one part of a vineyard do better 

 than another one year, and the case reversed another year. If Mr, 

 Byington or Mr. Underhill will give us facts instead of theory, I think 

 it would aid us more in the direction of correct conclusions than 

 theorizing. 



March 25, 1870. 



THE CURCULIO. 



This pestilent insect, which attacks all our fruits, especially stone 

 fruit, makes its appearance while the trees ai"e yet in bloom, and begins 

 laying its eggs as soon as the young fruits are large enough. Measures 

 for its destruction must be commenced about the time the fruit sets, and 

 followed up every day until it is ripe. Experience has shown that only 

 two methods of destroying the curculio are of any account : they must 

 either be eaten by hogs turned into the orchard to pick up the fallen 

 fruit containing the lai-vae, or the insects in the perfect state must be 

 shaken down and crushed. The latter way is the best. Get some 

 cotton cloth and stretch it on frames so as to be quickly spread vmder 

 the tree, and drive a large spike into the trunk, and give it a shai-p blow 

 with a hammer, which will cause the curculios to fall on your cloths 

 with their legs all curled under them, when they must be collected and 

 thrown into boiling water, or, which is better, into some kerosene oil. 

 Where the number of trees is large, Dr. Hull's curculio catcher, which 

 consists of a large frame covered with cotton cloth, in a somewhat con- 

 cave or dished form, and mounted on a wheelbarrow, will be found 

 most expeditious. There is an opening in the front part to admit the 

 trunk of the tree, and the machine being propelled against the trunk 

 shakes down the insects. A large spike should be driven into the tree 

 for the barrow to strike against. The spike should be made with a 

 shoulder, to prevent its penetrating too far. Don't be so brutal as to 

 bruise your trees by running the catcher against them without this pre- 



