FARMERS' REGISTER 



181 



is not much greater than that of our flint, the 

 frrain very inlerior, it is very easily blown down, 

 issuhjecl 10 rot il'left until the usual time oC har- 

 vest in the field, and when patherod in, is more 

 liahle to the attacks of the weevils. For these 

 reasons, we believe but little of it will hereafter 

 be planted. 



THE CURCU;:.IO. 



From tlie New England Farmer. 



Southborough, Feb. 22, 1840. 

 Dear sir, — I received a letter a few days since 

 from you, desirinar some information in protecting 

 the fruit of plum trees from the depredations of the 

 curculio. I have not stationed a hen and chickens 

 around a tree since the sprinij: of 1837, because 

 they would injure other proiiuctions which were 

 near the trees; but I should think from what I 

 know of the habits of the curculio, that they would 

 prove quite a prevention. I have studied the ha- 

 bits and character of the curculio in the two last 

 summers, for I consider hirn the only obstacle in 

 the way of raising that fruit. 



1st. I have found that the curculio is on the 

 tree ready for its operations very early, even be- 

 fore the plums are large enough for it to deposit 

 its egg in them. 



2d. It continues its labors into August. 

 3d. It gels on to the tree by flying, though it 

 may crawl up the body at times. 

 4ih. It stings the fruit mostly in the night. 

 The same curculio that slings the plum and 

 peach I have found repeatedly operating on the 

 apple. I was not aware of this fact till lately, and^ 

 I do not know but there n)ay be a larger species of 

 the same insect which siings the apple also. I 

 should think they were from the size of the larva? 

 often seen in apples. I should consider hens with 

 their chickens stationed about the fruit trees, and 

 daily shaking and jarring the trees (for the curculia 

 always falls to the ground when the tree is shook) 

 while the fowls were immediately under them, to 

 prove quite a protection. The supposed remedy 

 should be applied quite early in the spring, in order 

 lo warrant the greatest chance of success. The 

 small birds are the natural enemy of this insect as 

 well as most of the insect tribe, and it should be 

 the aim of horiiculturists and farmers to encourage 

 their multiplication, and to protect them. I design 

 is the fear of spreading the nut grass, which has I to make further experiments to protect fruit trees 

 already become a source of great annoyance. A against injuries from this insect, and should I make 

 plan adopted by Messrs. Thos. Porcher, of White any discovery or advances, I shall be happy tocom- 

 Hall, R. W. Ravenel, and perhaps others, is to municate. Were it not for the curculio, most of 

 work only every alternate alley at each time of] our fruit would be comparatively fair, and all of it 

 going over, by which course of culture the roots ; free from worms. A gentleman lately informed 



quantities of the rock, got out for the purpose of 

 being converted into lime, and we understood from 

 him, that he had purchased a considerable quan- 

 tity of salt to be used as manure. One fact we 

 would call the attention of our planters to, and 

 that is that the cotton, manured with salt, brought 

 a higher price than any other from the same 

 neighborhood, sold at the time. Is it not worthy 

 of inquiry and experiment, whether salt, added lo 

 other manures, (or alone) does not produce a finer 

 staple independent of its eflects in other respects ? 

 In a small pamphlet, published some few years 

 since by Mr. Johnson, he enumerates the benefits 

 to be derived from the use of salt to be — 



"1st. By promoting \n small proportions, pu- 

 trefaction. 2d. By destroying weeds, grubs, &c. 

 3il. As a constituent or direct food. 4ih. Accord- 

 ing lo Drs. Darwin and Priestley, as a stimulant 

 to the absorbent vessels of plants. 5ih. By pre- 

 venting injury from sudden transition in the tem- 

 perature olthe atmosphere; and 6th. By keeping 

 the soil moist." 



Corn. — There is nothing peculiar in the culture 

 of this crop, unless it be in the great attention be- 

 stowed on manuring it. The preparation of the 

 land is similar to that for cotton; the manure, 

 which most generally is compost, is strewed (by 

 some at the rate of 250 bushel baskets full per acre) 

 in the alleys, and a heavy list made, on which the 

 corn is planted, and not on beds, as when planted 

 on beds, the stalks are two easily blown down. 

 Cotton seed is invariably used as a manure for 

 this crop, and is supposed to cause the greatest 

 yield. Many planters apply it in the hill at the 

 rate of a pint to each. Others reserve it until all 

 danger of frosts is over, and apply it around the 

 corn, and cover it with ihe hoe at the first work- 

 ing. By Mr. T. W. Porcher, it is placed at the 

 sides only, which enables him to bury it when it 

 sprouts, much more easily than by the usual 

 mode of crushing with the foot and then covering 

 it. When it is up, he sends plouorhs into the field, 

 and a fellow goes ahead of^ each with a spade 

 and places it close to the corn, and between it and 

 the sprouted cotton seed — the earth thrown by the 

 plough completely covers the latter, while the 

 corn is untouched. In this manner, he accom- 

 jjlishes much more than those who follow the old 

 plan. In working it, most of the planters make 

 but little use of the plough, and the reason assigned 



of only one side are cut at a time ; moreover a 

 fresh stim.ulus is applied to the plants more fre- 

 quently, by the stirring of the ground. They 

 speak very favorably of this plan. 



The average product of this crop in St. John's, 

 is from 10 to 12 bushels. Dr. Ravenel usually 



me that apples and other fruit were free from 

 worms in the state of Ohio. 



By the request of a friend, I gave the editor of 

 the VVorcester j^gis last summer a small article 

 •• on the cultivation of plums," in which the cur- 

 culio is described, and some modes of prevention 



averages about 22 bushels, and this on fields which | are spoken of in the ariicle. I take the liberty lo 

 are perhaps the oldest on his plantation, (itself! send you that paper, and also an imperfect drawing 

 among the oldest in the Parish.) These were of that insect in this letter. 



very much reduced when he took possession, but | ISo information could be more important to the 

 by manuring highly, he has restored them to their fruit grower than a knowledtre of the character of 

 present slate of fertility. The Baden corn has been i the canker worm, the curculio, and the borer, 

 cultivated in small quantities by a large number of! and the best means of securing fruit trees against 

 the planters, and universally condemned. It is I the injuries which they inflict. Respectfully, your 

 found not to answer in our climate. The product I ob't servant, Jokl Buuxett. 



