JO INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



" The remedy which mil prove effectual, if the gardener does his duty, is to anticipate him, and never 

 let him exist ; which is done if all the punctured plums that fall to the ground are burned, or given to the 

 hogs. 



" Now, sir, one word in relation to copying the article into the Farmer. I shall believe it was done 

 without your supervision, as its erroneous description of the Curculw must at once have satisfied you that 

 the writer knew nothing of the insect of which he wrote. " Yours obediently, 



" Rome, June 5. J. H." 



J. H. very properly reproves the editors of both these agricultural papers for 

 publishing an article written by one, calling the Curculio a " green moth." Could 

 all the foolish recommendations that find their way into the papers be as promptly 

 met and as properly answered as this was by J. H., they would not do much 

 harm. 



This long account of Curculio remedies might be much extended. Many others 

 have been proposed,- but, like the above, have been found wanting when fairly 

 tried. 



About ten or fifteen years ago there was great activity in the search for a Cur- 

 culio remedy, chiefly with the idea of finding something available in connexion with 

 the supposed instincts of the insect. We had the paving, planting over water, 

 powerful smells, and heaps of manure ; but all these, as well as the various mixtures 

 for coating the young fruit, are now abandoned. The agricultural papers seldom 

 speak of any of them, and few new ones are proposed. The destruction of the 

 grub in the young fruit and the jarring process for killing the beetle during the sea- 

 son of mischief are all that have survived ; and so little is now said of these, that 

 most people have settled down into the belief that Nectarines, Apricots, and even 

 Plums are to be given up. They say if these fruits could be had without trouble 

 they would be very nice ; but they can do without them. There are people who, if 

 they find it troublesome to raise wheat, will live on rye or corn bread. But now, 

 since the signs of the times indicate so plainly that even Apples must soon be given 

 up also, unless we make fight against the insect enemies, perhaps the public will be 

 aroused to a sense of danger. 



I hope all who have followed me through this chapter on remedies, will reso- 

 lutely determine that the question as to their usefulness is no longer an open one ; 

 that they at least are not to be depended upon ; that the fight hereafter is to be 



