184 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE PLUM. 



should be promptly gathered and burnt or scalded, so as to 

 destroy the larva before it has time to escape. 



Another remedy, which is less laborious and has been found 

 very effectual, is to syringe or spray the plum-trees as soon as 

 the young fruit has formed with a mixture of Paris green and 

 water, in the proportion of a teaspoonful of the poison to two 

 gallons of water, and repeating the application after a week or 

 ten days. If the weather is very showery, a third spraying 

 may be necessary. This remedy either poisons the curculios 

 or is obnoxious to them, so as to deter them from working on 

 trees so protected. When alternate trees in a plum-orchard 

 where the curculio is common are so treated, the protecting 

 influence of the Paris green is very marked. 



Many other remedies have been suggested, but they are all 

 of little value compared with those already given. One of 

 these is to place hogs in plum and peach orchards to devour 

 the fallen fruit ; and it is said to have proved in some in- 

 stances a very successful and inexpensive way of disposing 

 of a large portion of the curculios. Hens with their broods 

 of chickens enclosed within the plum-orchard will devour 

 a large number of the larvae of the curculio. Hanging bot- 

 tles of sweetened water on the trees to attract the beetles, scat- 

 tering air-slaked lime through the foliage, 

 and smoking it by burning tar occasionally 

 under the trees, have also been advised. 

 Plum-orchards should not be planted near 

 a wood, as the curculios find shelter there, 

 and are likely to be more numerous than 

 in more open ground ; also avoid giving 

 shelter, by removing and burning all rubbish 

 that may accumulate about the trees. 



There are many insects which devour the 

 curculio larva as it escapes from the fruit, while some 

 eat into the fruit as it lies upon the ground, seize the 

 culprits, drag them out, and eat them. Foremost among 

 these beneficial insects are two or three species of common 



