218 SMALL AKIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. IL 



odors to keep off curculio, witliout effect. "I liave found no remedy equal 

 to that of manual labor in catching and destroying the insect. It is a fact 

 that some plum-trees are not infested by the curculio." 



The following is a conversation of some experienced fruit-growers upon 

 curculio remedies, and the character of the insect : 



IIkxuy Steele, a New Jersey nurseryman, said that lie had prevented 

 curculio by tiie use of black soap from the tallow-chandler's, dissolved in 

 water and much diluted, witii which tlie trees are syringed directly after tlio 

 blossoms fall, after a rain, and repeated, if necessary, in consequence of being 

 washed off. 



R. G. Pakdee — A person present assures me that a neighbor of his 

 yarded his Iiogs around his plum-trees, and that saved them from the curcu- 

 lio. Mr. Pardee said that he thought that fresh cow or pig manure, dis- 

 solved, and the water sprinkled over plum-trees, would prevent curculio. 

 They dislike any strong-sniulling substances. 



Wsr. Lawton — You may apply cow or pig manure raw to all fruits and 

 berries, but not horse manure ; that never should be used fresh — make it first 

 into compost. 



Dr. Triable — The curculio has already commenced its ravages this spring. 

 I am also satisfied that the curculio stings the bark of plum-trees and pro- 

 duces the disease known as tlie black knot. I have made a great many 

 experiments to prove the insect identical with that which destroys all of our 

 smooth-skinned fruit. Tlie jarring of trees to shake off' the curculio is effect- 

 ual, but it is an immense labor, as it must be attended to every day, and 

 some sunny days several times a day. I think that, unless some remedy 

 for tliis insect can be discovered, we shall bo unable to raise any fine fruit. 

 It is the curculio that causes the disease in api)]es known as gnarly. "We 

 get no good apples in Jersey, and it is out of the question to raise plums, 

 apricots, or fine peaches. We import prunes from Germany cheaper than 

 we can make boxes to pack them in — tlie plums grow to such perfection in 

 that country. 



Wm. Laavton — I have removed bushels of black knots from my cherry-trees 

 and burned them. I found in all these knots a living worm. I destroy tlie 

 common caterpillar by collecting them in the nests and destroying them. 



Mr. O. W. Bkewster, of Freeport, 111., gave a statement of his success in 

 repelh'ng the attacks of the curculio on his plums. Early in spring he scat- 

 tered lime, wliich had been mixed for wliitewashing, under his plum-trees 

 once a week, until the curculio quitted the field. He also scattered soap-suds 

 and chamber-lye under them in liberal quantity. He said, I have twice tried 

 tlie same remedy, with complete success. I once applied it to a small tree, 

 M-liich matured its whole crop ; several other trees near it, M'hich set full of 

 fruit, did not ripen a specimen. If plum-trees succeeded with us well, I 

 should have no fears of the curculio. 



P. II. Pekrt, of Collins Center, N. Y., saj's : 



" A gentleman lately informed me that he had raised a good crop of plums 



