DISEASES AND IXSECT3 INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 563 



numbers, place a sheet on the ground under the tree, aud strike 

 the trunk with a wooden mallet, (cover the head with cloth so 

 as not to bruise the bark,) and thej will fall, all curled up, and 

 apparently lifeless, when they can easily be collected and de- 

 stroyed. Repeat this every morning for a week. When the 

 fruit begins to fall gather it up .every day and destroy it, or let 

 the pigs do it for you* On account of the curculio, the soil for 

 the plum should be heavy clay, and never cultivated ; the 

 harder the ground under the tree the less chance is there for the 

 burrowing and hatching of the grub. Paving under the trees 

 or a coating of mortar prevents this. 



In all this work of destroying our insect enemies we are 

 aided by the numerous birds of the orchard and the garden. 

 They should therefore be encouraged in every possible way to 

 take up their abodes with us. The English Sparrows are to 

 be especially recommended for this purpose. If every farmer 

 would place one or more pairs of these little friends in his 

 orchard, they and their rapidly increasing progeny would soon 

 save many dollars worth of fruit from the insect destroyer. 

 Their wanton destruction by thoughtless men or boys is not 

 only cruel, but costly. 



*A careful fruit grower informs us that ho drives a spike into the tree 

 just under the largest branch, and strilies the spike when he wishes to jar 

 the tree. 



