16S Experiments with Guano 



suddenly shake the trees, at the season of iheir attacking the 

 fruit; when the beetles will fall to the ground, where a cloth 

 should have previously been spread to catch them ; they 

 should then be gathered up and destroyed : every plum 

 should be picked up that drops, performing the work every 

 morning, and the fruit destroyed in some way which will 

 not allow the insect to emerge alive. These two remedies 

 appear the most reasonable of all that have been advanced, 

 so far as our own experience goes. In cities, where the 

 yards are paved, or even much used by frequent passitig, so 

 as to harden the surface of the ground, the curculio rarely, 

 if ever, is seen. It is only when the young grub has a good 

 opportunity to find its way into the soil, that the number is 

 increased. This readil}^ accounts for the uniform success 

 of Mr. Caden's plum trees, which, being in the city, are 

 undoubtedly growing in a paved yard, or court, where the 

 grub cannot find a resting place to undergo the necessary 

 change from the larvai to the chrysalis state. 



The curculio being an insect which rarely uses its wings, 

 or at least seems to have an aversion to do so, some cultiva- 

 tors have recommended tarring the trees to prevent their 

 ascending, in the manner of the canker-worm grub ; aver- 

 ring that they do not fly, but crawl up the trunk ; 

 the experiment is worthy of trial, and if not wholly effect- 

 ual, it may lessen the number which ordinarily infest the 

 trees. 



As we shall have occasion hereafter to refer to the cur- 

 culio again, having no room to extend our remarks now, we 

 may call the attention of our correspondent to Mr. Down- 

 ing's excellent article on the plum (Vol. VIII., p. 91), which 

 contains some remarks in relation to the destruction of the 

 curculio. — Ed. 



Art. III. Experiments on va?'ions Flowe?-ing- Plants, with 

 Gnano, and Nitrate of Soda. By J, E. Teschemacher, 

 Corresponding Sec. Mass. Hort. Soc. 



Small parcels of the new manure, Guano, having been 

 very generally circulated in this vicinity, it is right to put 

 those in possession of it on their guard against using it too 



