J2 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



too broad, perhaps, to complete the superstructure, but greatly useful as far as they go. 

 Their works have created an interest in such studies that is doing much good. But 

 still a vast majority of people even religious people have such a prejudice, such a 

 repugnance to insects, that they do not hesitate to crush all indiscriminately. Such 

 people*seize with avidity all the nostrums they see recommended, especially in the 

 Agricultural papers. 



As the science of Surgery emerged from the deep darkness of the early ages, an 

 eminent physician wrote, "Millions have died of medicable wounds." It might 

 now be written that hundreds of millions have died from nostrums prepared by men 

 who knew little of medicines, and still less of the human system. 



Of all our insect enemies none have had so many remedies proposed for their 

 extermination as the Curculio. For twenty years I have been making collections of 

 these, and I cannot imagine anything of less value, unless it should be a similar 

 collection of quack remedies for consumption or rheumatism. A few of these I pro- 

 pose to introduce here some to be examined seriously, and some to be laughed at. 

 Many of the newspapers of the large cities publish country editions, some of which 

 have an immense circulation. To make these more useful to farmers, a column or 

 two is often devoted to agricultural reading. Many of the religious papers have a 

 similar department. One of these latter, published in New York, has printed 

 annually for several years a Curculio remedy, of which the following is a copy: 



" We have received requests from several persons to republish the directions for preparing and applying 

 this mixture. The following are the proportions. If any are unable to obtain the whale-oil soap, strong 

 soft soap may be used. 



" THE' MIXTURE. To one pound of whale-oil soap add four ounces of sulphur. Mix thoroughly, and 

 dissolve in twelve gallons of water. 



" Take one half peck of quick lime, and when well slacked, add four gallons of water, and stir well 

 together. When settled and clear, pour off the transparent part and add to the soap and sulphur mixture. 



"To this mixture, add four gallons of strong tobacco water. Apply this compound when thus incorpo- 

 rated with a garden syringe to your plum or other fruit trees, so as to drench all parts of the foliage. If no 

 rains succeed for three weeks, one application will be sufficient. If washed by rains, it should be renewed." 



I find attached to the above quite a number of articles clipped from Agricultural 

 papers, alluding to this remedy ; and among them the following from the Country 

 Gentleman. It was an extract from a letter from Maryland : 



