THE CURCULIO. 6l 



plan is a secret and cannot be explained that they want more time, but recom- 

 mend the pigs and jarring process. I have been able to find a few more allusions 

 to this Matthews remedy, but have never seen the report of the Committee. 

 Once in the garden of a friend I noticed a peculiar kind of pavement under 

 his Plum trees, apparently made of small stones, or chippings from a quarry, and 

 cement. I was left to infer that it was a specimen of the Matthews plan but it was 

 a secret. 



The whole system of paving as a remedy for saving fruit has so generally gone 

 out of use, of course from its want of success, that it will not be worth while to say 

 much more about it. My near neighbor, Mr. Pierson, tried it most faithfully under 

 the immediate directions of Mr. Longworth himself (who often visited Newark), 

 but without the slightest- effect. 



This, like planting over water, was supposed to be effectual, in consequence of 

 the instinct of the Curculio teaching her not to deposit her eggs where her young 

 would be in danger. We have seen that the Curculio throws herself to the ground 

 when disturbed. If she falls upon a pavement, and poultry are about, she is certainly 

 more liable to be caught. So also with the grub. It passes into the ground at once 

 upon leaving the young fruit if it can ; but upon a pavement that would be diffi- 

 cult it would be a longer time exposed to its enemies. The grub of the Curculio 

 laboriously at work on a pavement in a poultry-yard, would have a poor chance for 

 life. 



But that the Curculio will abstain from the use of fruit because it grows over a 

 pavement, I do not believe. It is certainly not an established fact. 



In the Cultivator of June, 1852, is the following communication relative to the 

 Curculio in Michigan: 



" I propose to speak of the progress of the Curculio in Southern Michigan. I have been a resident 

 of Lenawee county for the last eighteen years. The first depredations of this insect commenced about six 

 years ago, the first season attacking a few only of our choicest Plums ; the succeeding year they were more 

 numerous, and since, continuing from year to year, puncturing every variety of Plums, and also Cherries, to 

 considerable extent, and in some instances Peaches, and even Apples. All reputed remedies have utterly 

 failed to save the fruit the last season. Previous to last year, those who were careful to jar their trees daily 

 lor two or three weeks, and to destroy the captured rebels, succeeded in saving a portion of their fruit. 

 But the last season, this practice too was an entire failure, even when persevered in for months. In some 



