148 THE PLUM. 



course ever since ; and when the remedy has been 

 daily and unremittingly applied, he has never fail- 

 ed to obtain abundant crops of plums, nectarines, 

 and apricots, even in seasons where these insects 

 have elsewhere committed the most destructive 

 ravages. In some years, more than two thousand 

 insects have been thus destroyed. 



The best time for this work is in the cool of 

 morning, when the insects are stupid from cold, and 

 will drop quickly. It should be commenced very 

 early in the season, as soon as the fruit begins to 

 set. A few minutes are sufficient for many trees, 

 if two boys can be had to carry the sheets, which 

 should be kept stretched by cross sticks across the 

 ends. One day's work for the season, may thus 

 save entire crops. 



2. The second class of remedies includes those 

 for destroying the fallen fruit, as soon as it drops, 

 and before the larvae escape to the earth. 



One of these consists in beating the ground 

 smooth beneath the tree, sweeping up the fallen 

 fruit daily, and feeding it to hogs. Paving with 

 brick answers the same end. Confining a suf- 

 ficient number of geese or swine among the trees, 

 to pick up the fallen fruit, accomplishes easily 

 and effectually the same purpose. It does not, of 

 course, save the present crop ; but where tried for 

 many successive seasons, it has uniformly afforded 

 abundant crops. The planting of plums, nectarines,. 



