128 Extracts Jrorn the Journals. [July, 



Lots where swine and poultry can have access is the proper 

 place to plant plum trees, and in ground moderately hard, plum 

 trees flourish best. To talk of hogs eating the fallen fruit and 

 destroying the bug in that way, is but theory without evidence to 

 support it. The most of plums are punctured when they are about 

 the size of garden peas, and hogs destroy more of them by tread- 

 ing than in any other way. But there is a remedy to save the 

 fruit before the injury is done. 



Soon after the trees bloom, the bugs can be found on the trees 

 ready to commence their work of destruction when the plum 

 bursts the blossom cup; and at that time the fruit being young 

 and tender, they soon make great havoc. In proper time I make 

 a driver about one foot long, three inches wide, and more than 

 one inch thick, and circle the end to suit the round of a tree, over 

 which I put thick spongy leather, to save the bark of the tree and 

 limbs from injury; and after preparing two large white cloths, 

 one for each side of the tree, and spreading them on the ground, 

 with my driver and small mallet I jar the tree and all the limbs 

 well, and kill the bugs immediately. If this is continued thorough- 

 ly, but few bugs can escape; yet during the season afterwards all 

 punctured fruit should be gathered and burned. It lightens the 

 business for the second year. If not done, the worm escapes into 

 the ground, there to remain until the next spring, when it rises a 

 bug to commence its depredations. The victory thus gained must 

 be continued from year to year, and every season the business will 

 become lighter. 



A drawing of a young plum with the enemy on it, and a semi- 

 circular cut made on the fruit by the bug, can be seen in A. J. 

 Downing's Book on Fruits, but the drawing of the plum is too 

 large, as the most of plums are punctured before they are one-half 

 inch in diameter, and many of them before they are half that size. 



Where bugs have gained a habitancy, and are very numerous, 

 jarring trees twice a day is a very good plan, and in a few^days 

 their number will decrease; and the earlier in the season the bu- 

 siness is done, the more effectual it will be. 



Persons seeing this communication, if they lose their plums 

 hereafter, it will be their own fault. — Western Reserve Magazine. 



Road Making. — Roads may be improved by draining. Such a 

 result may be attained by cutting a deep ditch through the middle 

 of the road, running it parallel with it, for the distance required; 

 the ditch may be filled with stone at bottom and gravel at top. 

 This is the effectual remedy for muddy roads. — Ed. 



