1 62 Insetts and Diseases. 



ever, happen in thickly planted neighborhoods, that swine may not 

 prove a sufficient protection; but we know of no instance where 

 abundant crops have not been obtained by combining the two reme- 

 dies of swine and jarring down the insects. 



The curculio appears to prefer the nectarine to all other fruits for 

 the 'lodgment of its eggs, and next to this the plum and apricot. A 

 large portion of the cherry crop is frequently more or less injured, 

 and sometimes wholly destroyed ; and for this reason it may usually 

 be expedient to give it the benefit of the protection of swine in the 

 same enclosure with other smooth stone fruit. The peach is some- 

 times destroyed, and some varieties of the apple are much stung, as 

 indicated by the crescent-shaped incisions ; but the larvae rarely 

 reach so far as the core, and usually perish within the flesh of the 

 fruit. 



It was formerly supposed that the instinct of this insect would 

 prevent it from depositing eggs on branches hanging over water ; 

 but recent experiments prove that it possesses no such sagacity. 

 The only benefit resulting from the water beneath the tree, was the 

 destruction of the egg or larva by drowning. A partial preven- 

 tive, known as the Matthews Remedy, consisted in deeply spading 

 the ground beneath the tree at the first appearance of the perfect 

 insects when about to emerge from the soil. This turned them 

 back, at least for a time, and lessened their numbers. 



The Rose Bug ( Macrodactylus subspinosus). This beetle sud- 

 denly appears in great numbers in portions of the country and in 

 occasional years, proving exceedingly destructive to the flowers and 

 foliage of various plants, more particularly of the rose, apple, and 

 grape. It has been known to devour the young fruit of the apple 

 early in summer for successive years, entirely destroying the crop. 

 It attacks and devours the flowers of the grape. It is one-third or 

 half an inch long, sometimes varying in color, but usually a mixture 

 of grey and yellow ; being sluggish in its movements, it is easily 

 caught in large numbers in tin basins containing water, by jarring 

 the branches. This appears to be the only effectual remedy, and 

 must be unremittingly applied for successive days, as long as the 

 insects make their appearance. Dr. Fitch reports an instance 

 where, on a single quarter of an acre, at least a hundred thousand 

 were killed in a week, when they were subdued. 



The Currant Worm, which has of late years proved so destruc- 

 tive to both currant and gooseberry, by devouring the leaves, and 

 as a consequence, preventing the growth of the shoots and the 

 ripening of the fruit, may be easily and quickly destroyed by a 



