FEB.] THE ORCHARD. 137 



hang upon the tree. These destructive insects continue their 

 depredations from the first of May until autumn. Our fruits col- 

 lectively estimated must thereby be depreciated more than half 

 their value. 



" It is supposed the curculio is not only injurious above ground, 

 but also in its retreat, below the surface of the earth, by preying on 

 the roots of our fruit trees. We know that beetles have, in some 

 instances, abounded in such a manner as to endanger whole forests. 

 Our fruit trees often die, from manifest injuries done to the roots, by 

 insects, and by no insects more probably than the curculio. In dis- 

 tricts where this insect abounds, cherry trees and apple trees, which 

 disconcert it most above, appear to be the special objects of its ven- 

 geance below the surface of the earth. 



" These are serious evils to combat which^ every scientific en- 

 quirer is loudly called upon to exert his talents ; every industrious 

 farmer to double his diligence ; and all benevolent characters to con- 

 tribute their mite. 



" Naturalists have been accustomed to destroy vicious insects, by 

 employing their natural enemies to devour them. 



" We are unacquainted with any tribe of insects able to destroy 

 the curculio. All the domestic animals, however, if well directed, 

 contribute to this purpose. Hogs, in a special manner, are qualified 

 for the work of extermination. This voracious animal, if suffered 

 to go at large in orchards, and among fruit trees, devours all the 

 fruit that falls, and among others the curculiones, in the maggot 

 state, which may be contained in them. Being thus generally des- 

 troyed in the embryo state, there will be few or no bugs to ascend 

 from the earth in the spring, to injure the fruit. Many experienc- 

 ed farmers have noted the advantage of hogs running in their 

 orchards. Mr. Bordley, in his excellent c Essays on Husbandry? 

 takes particular notice of the great advantage of hogs to orchards : 

 and although he attributes the benefits derived from these animals 

 to the excellence of their manure, and their occasional rooting about 

 the trees, his mistake in this trivial circumstance does by no means 

 invalidate the general remarks of this acute observer. The fact is, 

 hogs render fruits of all kinds fair and unblemished, by destroying 

 the curculio. 



" The ordinary fowls of a farm yard are great devourers of beetles. 

 Poultry in general are regarded as carnivorous in summer, and 

 therefore cooped sometimes before they are eaten. Every body 

 knows with what avidity ducks seize on the tumble bug (Scarabaus 

 canufex)) and it is probable the curculio is regarded by all the fowls 

 as an equally delicious morsel. Therefore it is, that the smooth 

 stone fruits, particularly, succeed much better in lanes and yards, 

 where the poultry run without restraint, than in gardens and othef 

 enclosures, where the fowls are excluded. 



k < All the terebinthinate substances, with camphor and some 

 others, arc said lobe very offensive to insects generally. Upon this 

 principle, General T. ROBINSON, of Naaman's creek, suspends an- 

 nually little bits of board, about the size of a case knife, clipped in 

 tar, on each of his plum trees.. ..From three to five of these strips 



T 



