144 THE ORCHARD. [Feb. 



tuiiity to the young maggot to hide itself in the earth. Although 

 multitudes of these fruits fall, yet many recover from the wounds, 

 which heal up with deeply indented scars. This probably discon- 

 certs the curculio in its intended course to the earth. Be this as 

 it may, certain it is, that pears are less liable to fall, and are less 

 injured by this insect than apples. Nectarines, plumbs, &.c. in 

 most districts of our country where the curculio has gained an 

 establishment, are utterly destroyed, unless special means are em- 

 ployed for their preservation. Cherries escape better on account 

 of their rapid progress to maturity and their abundant crops: the 

 curculio can only puncture a small part of them during the short 

 time they hang upon the tree. These destructive insects continue 

 their depredations from the first of May until autumn. Our fruits 

 collectively estimated must thereby be depreciated more than half 

 their value. 



"It is supposed the curculio is not only injurious above ground, 

 but also in its retreat below the surface of the earth, by preying on 

 the roots of our fruit trees. We know that beetles have, in some 

 instances, abounded in such a manner as to endanger whole forests. 

 Our fruit trees often die from manifest injuries done to the roots 

 by insects, and by no insects more probably than the curculio. In 

 districts where this insect abounds, cherry trees and apple trees, 

 which disconcert it most above, appear to be the special objects of 

 its vengeance below the surface of the earth. 



"These are serious evils to combat, which every scientific in- 

 quirer is loudly called upon to exert his talents; every industrious 

 farmer to double his diligence, and all benevolent characters to 

 contribute their mite. 



"Naturalists have been accustomed to destroy vicious insects by 

 employing their natural enemies to devour them. 



"We are unacquainted with any tribe of insects able to destroy 

 the curculio. All the domestic animals, however, if well directed, 

 contribute to this purpose. Hogs, in a special manner, are qualified 

 for the work of extermination. This voracious animal, if suflered 

 to go at large in orchards, and among fruit trees, devours all the 

 fruit that falls, and among others, the curculiones, in the maggot 

 state, which may be contained in them. Being thus generally 

 destroyed in the embryo state, there will be few or no bugs to 

 ascend from the earth in the spring, to injure the fruit. Many 

 experienced farmers have noted the advantage of hogs running in 

 their orchards. Mr. Bordley, in his excellent 'Essays on Hus- 

 bandry,'' takes particular notice of the great advantage of hogs to 

 orchards; and although he attributes the benefits derived from the 

 animals to the excellence of their manure, and their occasional 

 rooting about the trees, his mistake in this trivial circumstance does 

 by no means invalidate the general remarks of this acute observer. 

 The fact is, hogs render fruits of all kinds fair and unblemished, 

 by destroying the curculio. 



"The ordinary fowls of a farm-yard are great devourers of beetles. 

 Poultry in general are regarded as carnivorous in summer, and 

 therefore cooped sometimes before they are eaten. Every body 



