10 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1865. 



cultivator, iu going over his grounds and making an examination of his fruits, 

 the present season, that a very large pi'oportion of that fruit is imperfect, in 

 some instances, almost worthless. He will find upon a closer examination, that 

 an enemy has been at work, and that his ravages have been universal: an ene- 

 my insignificant, indeed, iu size — so much so that scores of his kind can rest in 

 the hollow of the hand : — but what he lacks in size he makes up in numbers 

 and diligence. His trade mark is unmistakeable — the crescent form of his 

 signature leaves no room for doubt. 



This enemy to which I allude, the Curculio, was formerly somewhat 

 dainty in his appetite, and the plum seemed the only fruit suited to his 

 palate ; but that appetite has become more gross, and now no fruit is spared 

 by him. He is an enemy against which war must be declared and waged 

 to extermination, if we w^ould realize anything from the trees that have so 

 long been watched and cared for by lis. Dr. Trimble, the distinguished 

 entomologist of the State Agricultural Society of New Jersey, and other Asso- 

 ciations, has just given us a work in which the subject is very thoroughly dis- 

 cussed ; and although he advances no theory looking to relief fruui the insect, 

 beyond the mere kiU'uKj of it, he disposes, very summarily, of quite a number 

 that have been advanced by others. He puts forward the curculio as the great 

 enemy with which fruit growers will hereafter contend ; as the one against which 

 all our energies are to be directed, until we find ourselves relieved of his pres- 

 ence. Forewarned is forearmed : and I simply allude to the subject for the pur- 

 pose of calling the attention of the Society to it, that we may do whatever we 

 may be able, to meet and contest the advance, and prevent the further increase 

 of this destructive, aiid already powerful foe to the horticulturist. 



