CHESTNUT CULTURE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. Ill 



nuts. The time required by the larvae to reach maturity is not fixed, but is gov- 

 erned by the time of ripening of the nut, which acts as host. In different varieties 

 the grubs are always full grown when the nuts mature, even though the varieties 

 ripen many weeks apart. The full grown larvae bore out through the shell and 

 enter the ground soon after the nuts fall, where they change into a pupa state, in 

 which condition they remain dormant all winter. In the spring, after another 

 transformation, they emerge in the adult beetle form, thus completing their cycle 

 of existence, and are ready to perform the one function for which they were created, 

 the reproduction of the species. 



The full control of this weevil pest is as yet an unattained result. As with 

 many other pests of this kind preventive measures, rather than remedial ones, are 

 most effective. The one plan which aims to reduce the injury after it is done, is the 

 scalding method already described under instructions for the care of the crop. This 

 method, if immediately carried into effect upon the maturing of the nuts, makes 

 most of the crop available for market, and kills all insect life in the gathered nuts, 

 thus reducing the number which would prey on next year's crop, and saving a 

 second resorting of the nuts before marketing. If left a few days without scalding, 

 a basket of nuts often shows twice as many wormy ones as when set away, since 

 many larvae mature and leave within that time. The holes in the shells are always 

 made from the inside by emerging larvae. Sound nuts never become infested when 

 mixed with wormy ones, because the larvae pass the pupa state and winter in the 

 ground, not in the nuts. 



The preventive measures which may be practiced are many and are all good, 

 since anything which reduces the number of insects will lessen the injury done 

 during the subsequent year. To keep large flocks of guinea hens, turkeys and game 

 chickens foraging among the trees is an excellent plan, as the number of adult 

 insects and larvae they will destroy is enormous. In order to prevent the larvae 

 from escaping into the ground the nuts and burs should be gathered the moment 

 they are ripe, and immediately sorted and the defective ones destroyed ; or, if left 

 unsorted, they should be thrown into tight bins or boxes to prevent the escape of 

 the larvae. Even the immature burs which fall early should be gathered and burned, 

 and every precaution taken to destroy all existing larvae. The Paragon burs which 

 are picked and dried in the sun should be burned as soon as the nuts are extracted. 

 It has been suggested that the curculio be shook from the trees into sheets, as is 

 done with the plum curculio ; but this would prove practicable only where the 

 orchard or grove is small. A better method is to plant throughout the plantation 

 varieties, like the Cooper, which are especially sought by the weevil, and destroy all 



