66 



I believe is the cause in most cases. That is, we are not 

 raising plums enough and the plum curculio is passing in 

 large numbers to the apple and while as a rule, I do not 

 know that the curculio can live in the apple, it injures it. 

 There are certain cases which appear to be due to the fruit 

 being touched just a bit by the frost. I do not feel certain 

 that I have the explanation for all cases and I presume cer- 

 tain varieties of fruit are more acceptable to the plum 

 curculio than others. 



Have you anything to offer by way of preventive? 



The plum curculio is claimed by many to be responsible 

 for the loss of over 90 per cent, of the plums which set in 

 the first place. They attack the plum first, then the peach, 

 and the apple is coming in for its share of attention ; but 

 I think if we keep the curculio down on the plums it will 

 not appear so much on the other fruits. 



The plum curculio appears in the spring before the 

 fruit has developed sufficiently for it to lay its eggs and it 

 occasionlly develops an appetite and gets hungry. It then 

 nibbles on the tender leaves while it is waiting for a chance 

 to deposit its eggs. One of the best times to spray for many 

 things is just before the blossoms open ; then a repetition of 

 this spraying just after the blossoms fall and you will be 

 most certain to reach some of the curculio. Don't wait for 

 the curculio to go to the apple but attack them on the plum- 

 before they leave. 



Is there not an apple curculio as well as a plum, 



There is. Collections have been made at the Massa- 

 chusetts Agricultural College every year since 1886. We 

 get curculio brought in every year and we keep tabs as to 

 how abundant Ihey are; in that way we keep watch on the . 

 insects and during these 21 years I believe eight specimens 

 of the apple curculio have been sent in. The apple curculio 

 is a negligible quality as compared with the plum curculio. 



Is there a pear curculio? 



No, possibly the plum curculio may attach to pea^. 



Messrs. Eames and Morse then spoke upon the subject, 

 ''What Fungus Pests have been seriously injurious to our 

 Fruits, the past season." E. T. Dow of Michigan spoke on 

 methods of exterminating pests. A nominating committee 

 was appointed by Pres. Whitney to bring in a list of officer.? 

 and the meeting adjourned for dinner. 



