182 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



CULTIVATIOIV OF THE PLUM. 



From the National JEgis. 



Mr. Editor: Sir — I am induced to ofler you 

 Bome observations of mine on tlie cullivalion of 

 plums. 1 have taken an niterest in the cultivation 

 oC fruit for the last eijxiit years, and now have se- 

 veral good kinds in a bearinir stale. The plum is 

 one of our hardiest fruit trees. During our cold 

 winters I lost pear, apricot, peach, and several of 

 the Baldwin apple, by the severity of the cold, but 

 not a single plum tree. Plum trees of almost all 

 kinds are good bearers; they usually blossom full, 

 and the fruit sets well, and it is certainly one of 

 the most delicious li-uits we have, when in perfec- 

 tion. The fine kinds are wholesome and salutary, 

 and can be indulged in even to satiety, when fully 

 ripe, without harm. They will frrovv well in rather 

 a low loamy soil ; if the soil is rich, they grow last 

 and come quick into bearing. 



But the grand obstacle in the way of cultivating 

 this fruit, is the depredations of a small insect of 

 the beetle tribe, which commences its operations 

 when the fruit is quite small, and continues them 

 usually till the first of August. This beetle is 

 called by horticulturists the curculio— is about 

 one sixth of an inch long, has two small bunches 

 or protuberances on its back, and a rostrum or 

 beak, and on this two antennaj. By this rostrum 

 it makes a semilunar incision on the plum, into 

 which it deposits an egg. The e^^ hatches, pro- 

 ducing a worm, or larva?, which burrows down into 

 ihe heart of the fruit, eatins it through two or three 

 times from end to end. This kills the life of the 

 plum, causing it to wither and fall prematurely : the 

 worm then soon leaves the fruit and enters the 

 ground, where it undergoes a transformation or 

 metamorphosis, common to the insect tribe, and 

 then comes up a new curculio, to deposit its eggs 

 aa before described. Its work is not confined to 

 the plum, but extends to the cherry, peach, and 

 apple, though it would seem to prefer the plum to 

 other fruit, on account, probably, ofthe smoothness 

 of the skin, and the greater ease in making the in- 

 cision. It is remarkable how general its depreda- 

 tions are on the plum tree when unmolested ; lor 

 when the tree is loaded with fruit, and large, 

 scarcely a single plum will remain unpunclured, 

 and consequently all will be lost to the cultivator. 

 Some kinds of peach and apple which have a wool- 

 ly or lurry suriace, are not attacked. Almost all 

 the wind-fal! apples (as they are called) are pro- 

 duced by ihis beetle, and upon examination will be 

 found to contain the larvty or worm fiom the egg of 

 the curculio. 



The plum tree is subject to a disease on the 

 limbs, a kind of excrescence or warty appearance, 

 which Dr. Harris says is caused by this same cur- 

 culio, puncturing the tender bark and depositing 

 his eggs under it. "These swellings, or warls, 

 are diseases ofthe bark, caused by the punctures of 

 the weevil; and the residence of the grubs. The 

 sap vessels being wounded and irritated by the in- 

 sects, throw out an increased (juanlity of fluid ; this 

 is re-absorbed by the bark, which is consequently 

 ewollea and thickened in substance ; the over- 

 Ki retched cuticle burslt^, and ilic swollirig liecomes 

 irrpizular, granulated, and lull of li.ssures." 



Dr. Harris recommends culling out ami cxtir()at- 

 nvs these excrescences and burninir tlioiu beloie 



the last of June. The wounds made in so doing 

 should be trea'ed wiih mortar used in grafting. 



The character of the curculio is shy and timo- 

 rous ; so much so, it is seldom seen unless hunted 

 after purposely. He is not often seen in motion 

 on the tree, but occasionally in a small crevice or 

 crack, or ihe axilla of a limb, and so much does 

 he resemble an old blossom or bud, or a small 

 piece of bark, that he will commonly remain un- 

 noticed. Should the observer extend his thumb 

 and finger to take him, ten to one if he don't elude 

 him, falling as imperceptible as a small shot would 

 to the ground. 



The liabiis of this insect are not well known, I 

 still believe, to fruit growers. I have made fre- 

 quent inquiry of them for a preventive measure. 

 Some have told me the insect crawled up the tree, 

 and most of them have never seen it to know it. It 

 is well to remark that it flies on the tree. 



The following are some ofthe means of preserv- 

 ing fruit against the attacks of these insects. 



First. All the premature fruit that falls to the 

 ground with the worm in it, should be immediately 

 gathered and burned. Jt will begin tuliill as early 

 as the 12th or 15;h of June, and continue to lall un- 

 til Ihe middle of August, if not ripe before. This 

 course, well pursued, will destroy the next genera- 

 tion ol' them and save the next year's crop. 



Second. Shaking the tree briskly morning and 

 night, and two or three times during the day, will 

 very much discommode and interrupt them from 

 pursuing their operations — for at each concussiort 

 ol the tree the insects fall to the ground, and if they 

 reascend, will soon become discouraged by this 

 course ol treatment. 



Third. Let two or three hands take a sheet or 

 sheets and spread under the tree, and then shake 

 and jar it, and they immediately fall, liiigning them- 

 selves lifeless, and appearing like a shapeless 

 lump, and by those who are unacquainted with 

 them, would not be taken !br an animal until they 

 moved. All that (alls on the sheet should be im- 

 mediately crushed. This last mode of destroying 

 them should be practised twice a day while any 

 are found. In the spring of 1837, I cooped a hen 

 and chickens about an imperial gage, whose fruit 

 was destroyed the preceding year, and about all 

 the plums matured on this tree. It is probable 

 that the beetles were destroyed by the brood, 

 as they made their way to the surface of the soil. 

 As this little animal is easily annoyed, trees stand- 

 ing before a store or shop or any frequented place, 

 usually more or less escape injury. 1 have known 

 trees standing near a hog pen mature their Iruit 

 year after year, while otfiers, standing four rods 

 distant, as surely failed. 



Mr. Manning rentiarks in his book of fruits that 

 plums thrive best near the borders ofthe sea, and, 

 that the curculio is said to avoid the salt air. 



If the foregoing remarks should prove of any 

 advantage to horticulturists in the protection of 

 fruit from injuries inflicted by this insect, or lead 

 to iriinuter investigation into its nature and habits, 

 I shall be well rewarded for this imperfect com- 

 munication. JoKL Burnett. 



Suulhborough, June 19, 1839. 



