1846.] The Cvrculio. 127 



tion of its products to the ocean, and the markets of other climates, 

 is laborious, costly, slow, hazardous and uncertain. Wool forms 

 the only exception. Wool, which is worth ten times as much as 

 iron of equal weight, may be sent forward from the place of its 

 growth thirty times cheaper than wheat of equal value. The ne- 

 cessaries of densely peopled countries insures its steady consump- 

 tion. Of all the articles of commerce, wool is the most stable in 

 its nature, and has always been the most generally used by civil- 

 ized man, from times the most remote of every nation, tongue and 

 race. Of all the staple articles of the world, wool requires the 

 least labor to produce it, the least care and cost in its preserva- 

 tion and transportation, and is the most suitable, profitable and 

 reliable production for the great interior of this conntry, where la- 

 bor is scarce and dear, and fertile lands cheap and plenty. Hence 

 its growth will long continue to be a cherished interest, and the 

 export demand, at the prices of other countries, will last forever. 



I remain, yours truly, 



Hamilton Gay. 



THE CURCULIO. 



BY JAMES ALLEN. 



If a man does not possess a comprehensive mind, or loses one 

 between youth and old age, he may be good and clever, but 

 never can be useful beyond the circle of common business. And 

 if I am lacking from dotage or any other cause, my unbounded 

 conceit can be put to the test when I make the assertion, that I 

 can subdue the peach worm, and destroy the plum bug, Curculio. 



As much has been written on both subjects, by men of learning 

 and observation, they have only given me cause to believe that 

 they have passed round the enemy and only driven in the picquet 

 guards, instead of storming their Ibrtress. 



It a man having young peach trees will remove the ground 

 early in the spring, and with a wooden paddle scrape about the 

 roots and search for worms, and then with soft soap, made and 

 kept with strong ley, soap the roots well and up the trunk about 

 six inches, leaving the cavity made to remain open several weeks, 

 and then filled up with ashes either leached or unleached, using 

 enough to make a mound about each tree, there to remain until 

 late in the fall, and then leveled down. The second year no 

 soaping will be needed, if it was done well the year before. But 

 the ashes put in mound form around the trees must be continued. 



I will now leave the peach worm and pass on to that sly 

 " Turk," the Curculio, that destroys all plums when they are let 

 alone. 



