164 On the Culture oj the Plum. 



the weevil family, and which Professor Peck believes to be the 

 same insect (the curculio) Rhynchonnus cerasi, which attacks the 

 fruit — he having reared it from the grub that inhabits the excres- 

 cences of the cherry tree. But we are inclined to believe this in- 

 sect to be another and a totally distinct species, and shall endeavor, 

 the present season, by rearing and placing it in the hands of some 

 skilful entomologist, to set the matter at rest. Practically, how- 

 ever, this knowledge is, perhaps, of no great consequence, as it is 

 known that the larva; leave the diseased branches in July, and a 

 knowledge of tiiis single fact should be sufficient to impress upon 

 the horticulturist the necessity of cutting off and extirpating (burn- 

 ing is the best method), entirely, all those branches which show 

 the least symjitoms of disease, before that month commences. In 

 this way the insect may be wonderfully diminished in numbers, and 

 probably entirely subdued. The branches of some kinds of plum 

 (fortunately the least valuable, as the horse plum and damson) 

 seem to be sought in preference, by the insect, when depositing 

 its egg ; but if its ravages are permitted to extend unchecked, the 

 other and more precious varieties will also fall a prey. To so 

 great an extent did the damage caused by this single insect spread, 

 about thirty years since, in some parts of the State of New York, 

 that scarcely a plum tree survived the disease, owing to the igno- 

 rance of its habits prevalent among the cultivators at that time. 



There is but one more insect which is generally destructive to 

 the plum tree in America — the borer (^JEgeria exitiosa, Say), 

 which attacks also the peach tree, and other stone fruits, just below 

 the surface of the ground. The eggs of this insect are deposited 

 in the bark of the tree, close to the earth, and the grub, upon hatch- 

 ing, penetrates further down, and bores its way around the trunk, 

 and if undisturbed, completely destroys the albumen, or young wood, 

 and ultimately causing the death of the tree. As these larvae are 

 always found in a particular place, technically called the neck of 

 the tree, just below the surface of the soil, the proprietors of ex- 

 tensive peach orchards have found it the most effective and speedy 

 method of extermination, to examine their trees every fall, remov- 

 ing the earth two or three inches deep, and upon the appearance 

 of gum (a sure symptom), searching out and destroying the larvae, 

 with a knife for that purpose. A laborer, with trifling practice, will 

 examine a great number of trees in a day, and with this slight an- 

 nual care, whole orchards are, so far as the borer is concerned, pre- 

 served in most vigorous health. From successful practice, we can- 

 not but think this the most unfailing method with the plum also. 

 Boiling hot water, poured around the trunk of the tree, will, with- 

 out any injury, in many cases, destroy the larvae ; and soap-suds 

 have been recommended for the same purpose. The public prints 

 abound, lately, with accounts of the efficacy of a deposit of coal 

 ashes around the trunk and roots of the tree, but we need some 



