146 THE PLUM. 



these, magnified twice in diameter. The egg soon 

 hatches into a small white larva, which enters 

 the hody of the fruit and feeds upon it, causing 

 usually, its premature fall to the ground. 



The insect, soon after the fall of the fruit, makes 

 its way into the earth, where it remains till the 

 following spring, probably in the pupa or torpid 

 state, and is then transformed into the perfect in- 

 sect to lay its eggs and perpetuate its race. It 

 has the power of using its wings in flying; but 

 whether it crawls up the tree or ascends by flight, 

 appears not to be certainly ascertained. 



Several expedients have been proposed for its 

 destruction, or expulsion. These expedients may 

 be divided into two classes ; the first including 

 those for repelling or killing the perfect insect 

 when it takes possession of the tree to lay its eggs ; 

 and the second, those for the destruction of the 

 larva before it makes its escape to the earth, and 

 which consequently affords protection to the suc- 

 ceeding crop only. 



1. Among the first may be mentioned various 

 modes for frightening it from the tree. The fre- 

 quent passing near trees planted by door-paths, 

 usually accomplishes this end, and hence trees in 

 the most frequented places often bear abundantly 

 while the crops on those more remote are destroyed. 



In one case, a string from a pump-handle fast- 

 ened to a tree, by the repeated shaking thus given, 



