gous wood is formed, swelling out on one side of the branch, 

 and among this the young progeny find nourishment and 

 shelter. This fungous wood however, appears not to be 

 occasioned by the worm, for it often occurs where there 

 are none, but by some irritating secretion from the parent. 



After the late severe drought, when the trees took a 

 second growth, we found several new excrescences so late 

 in the season, that probably the worms would have 

 perished with cold if we had not arrested their career. 

 Does the starting of the fungous wood cause the eggs to 

 hatch ? 



We have spoken of insects that depredate on the trees : 

 we now turn to such as injure the fruit by puncturing and 

 then depositing a nit, so that it becomes wormy, and drops 

 prematurely from the tree. 



Every person that cultivates the plum, apricot, or nec- 

 tarine, ought to be acquainted with the curculio, both 

 by sight and character. There ought to be a good draw- 

 ing of this insect, but we have seen none ; and at this 

 season of the year, we cannot have one prepared. It is 

 however, a dark-brown bug, about a quarter of an inch 

 long, and of singular form, having a slender neck and 

 head. When it drops from the tree, it lies still, pretend- 

 ing to be dead ; or if a dried blossom or leaf be near, 

 where it can hide, it moves cautiously under, fearing to 

 be seen in motion. When crushed between the thumb 

 and finger, it feels 1'ke Indian meal, and like no other in- 

 sect that we have examined. 



It is timid ; and when hogs, sheep, or cattle pass fre- 

 quently under the trees, it is scarcer than in more retired 

 places. Trees that stand near a door where there is much 

 passing, are often entirely exempt from its visits ; and the 

 same result occurs where they stand in a lane or barn, 

 yard. The late Thomas Forrest of Germantown, near 

 Philadelphia, tied one end of a cord to a plum tree, and 



