300 



were slightly benumbed ; and persevered till we had des- 

 troyed nearly seventeen hundred. In consequence, all 

 the trees that we visited, bore fruit in abundance ; and 

 to prove that our labor was rewarded, a tree that was 

 overlooked bore three apricots, while another of less size 

 bore half a bushel. 



During its migrations, the curculio doubtless uses its 

 wings ; and near its native spot it may occasionally fly 

 into the tree ; but from several circumstances, we con- 

 clude that it generally ascends by crawling. With this 

 belief, circular tin troughs have been fastened round the 

 trees ; and being filled, and kept filled, with water, have 

 been found useful for this insect is no navigator. These 

 appendages, however, should be applied very early in the 

 spring, .before it gets up the trees. Afterward they are 

 not likely to be of any benefit whatever. 



When the earlier accounts of the curculio were pub- 

 lished, it was believed to be identical with the worms that 

 infest the apple, pear, and quince ; but Noyes Darling of 

 New-Haven, more than ten years ago, discovered that 

 they were very distinct: and we repealed his experiment 

 with the same result. It is a dark-gray miller that at- 

 tacks the apple and the pear, and probably the quince. 

 It was also thought that the curculio continued its ravages 

 until autumn; but the same sagacious horticulturist found 

 that its work was finished before midsummer. 



The mark which it leaves on the fruit that it punctures, 

 is in form of a crescent ; and we have never seen that 

 mark except on stone fruit. 



The down of the peach generally protects it against the 

 curculio, but the nectarine, which is only a smooth skin 

 variety of peculiar flavor, often suffers even more than 

 the plum or the apricot. 



The peach worm (JEgeria exitiosd) attacks the tree at 

 the root, where the bark is soft from the moisture of the 



