188 



CURCULIO— BLACK KNOT— GAEDBN MEMORANDA. 



Our summers are dry and hot — so much so -that 

 under ordinary circumstances, if there were nothing 

 else to contend against, the season -would require the 

 plants' utmost strength. Mulching is extremely ben- 

 eficial, and is performed by placing coarse manure, 

 partially decayed leaves, chips or spent tan-bark, upon 

 the surface of the ground and about the stem of the 

 plant ; not one shovel-full only, but at least a bushel 

 to every orchard tree. This keeps the ground moist, 

 and protects it from the suu during the summer, 

 which is far better, and less trouble and expense than 

 to pour water about the roots of the plants. If water 

 is used, the ground will surely become hard and com- 

 pact, if of the least tenacious character, unless it has 

 turned upon it the mulching material. 



Contrary to all instructions, many trees are put out 

 in sod land, or are upon ground sowed to grain, 

 without leaving a space about the collar of the plant. 

 The succulent and vigorous roots of the grasses and 

 the other plants, absorb the whole strength of the 

 soil, as well as the moisture which otherwise would 

 have been taken up by the fibres of the tree to pro- 

 duce its leaves and branches. The importance of 

 the subject demands that immediate attentio;i should 

 be given all trees and plants which are thus situated. 

 Mulching material of some kind is easily obtained, 

 and a circle say with a diameter of at least four feet, 

 should be spaded up and kept free from weeds during 

 the summer. But very little time is required to per- 

 form it all, and you will before the season is past, 

 witness the benefit derived from such care. Staking 

 had better be done now, if not done before. This is 

 performed by sewing straw or fle-vible shoots to a 

 stake driven firmly into the ground, and so made as 

 to reach the lower branches. Straw or pieces of 

 cloth may be placed between the stake and the tree 

 to prevent chafing. 



C0ECULIO. 



Mb. Editor : — The opinion that universally pre- 

 vails, that the Curculio lays in the ground during the 

 winter, is not always correct ; at least it has proved 

 so' in a single instance that has come under my own 

 observation. We presume, however, that a large pro- 

 portion of this destructive insect's posterity is pre- 

 served through the winter by remaining under the 

 eurfaoe of the ground — but the exception to this case, 

 to which I now refer, is somewhat singular. 



Last fall I picked up some small hard apples, and 

 laid them in a pile on grass ground, for fall feeding ; 

 and when •'the early deep snow came, a few remained 

 there, and being covered with grass and snow, were 



sound this spring. On the 10th of April I cut on 

 open, and to my great surprise, my old enemy, tb 

 Curculio appeared before me in full view, large a 

 life. The insect appeared to be perfectly developei 

 in all its parts, except that the outer wings were 

 little shorter than common. From appearance 

 should judge it had not assumed the insect form bu 

 a short time, as the cavity around the case was no 

 large. J. D. C. 



Locke, N. T., April 10, 1855. 



REMEDIES FOK THE BLACK KNOT AND ICUECTTLK 



Mr. Editor : — I have heard much said and hav 

 read several articles on the black knot on cherry an 

 plum trees. Having set some of all kinds of youn 

 trees, my next care was to preserve them. The kno 

 (so called) made its appearance on my neighbor: 

 treess everal years before mine were affected, and I use 

 every inducement to have something done to then 

 but to no effect. When these trees began to die 

 mine commenced knotting very bad. The first yeo 

 I cut them off ; but the next year the knots increase 

 two-fold. I then examined them and found worn: 

 about half an inch in length in many, whereupon 

 cut them all off and burnt them. The result was th 

 next year but few appeared, and they were served th 

 same way. My trees were saved and are now thrift 

 These branches should be cut as soon as they mak 

 their appearance, say the last of May, and throug 

 June, and burned before the insect matures. 



I will give you a little of my experience with th 

 curculio. For several years all of my plums wer 

 destroyed by this insect, excepting on one tree. Th 

 I observed was where washing water (soap-suds) wo 

 poured out — and this tree never failed of bearin 

 abundantly every year. I then concluded to tr 

 soap-suds around other trees; and the result last yea 

 was, every tree thus watered bore abundance of frui 

 while all those not so treated did not mature a singl 

 plum ; and although early in the season they hunj 

 full of fruit, it all dropped when half grown. 



SPE.VCEB, N. T. G. W. H. 



GAKDEN MEMORANDA. 



Crystal Palace, Sydenham. — On Monday las1 

 everything was being put in as complete a state a 

 po.ssible for the reception of the distinguished per 

 sonages who were about to honor the building an( 

 gardens with their presence. In the center transep 

 a dais was being erected, which was to be profusel; 

 ornamented with plants in flower, and the latter wi 

 undei-stood were also to be lilierally introducet 

 throughout the building. As regards plants perma 



