Observations on the Curculio. 143 



knowledge that the greatest errors have been proposed and 

 propagated as truths, by scientific men. 



Yours, J. E. Teschemacher. 

 Boston, March, 1844. 



Art. V. Observations on the Curculio, and the modes re- 

 centhj recommended for its destruction ; with some remarks 

 iipon the application of Salt Lye, and its efficacy in extir- 

 pating- the hisect. By John A. Kenrick, Newton, Mass. 



Having, till quite recently, had all my plums destroyed 

 by the Curculio, my attention has been directed to all com- 

 munications upon the subject in your Magazine, and other 

 publications, which came in my way, with a hope of find- 

 ing some preventive or remedy proposed, which would ena- 

 ble me to secure a crop ; but such various and opposite 

 opinions exist among writers, that I have, on the whole, 

 been rather blinded than enlightened by many of the arti- 

 cles which I have read, and have been almost discouraged 

 from trying many things which seemed to be well recom- 

 mended for this purpose. Some writers contend that the 

 evil, to a great extent, arises in consequence of the punc- 

 tured fruit being left upon the ground, thereby allowing the 

 worms to escape and bury themselves under the trees dur- 

 ing the winter, which, in efiect, is sowing the seed for the 

 crop of the succeeding year. Writers, who are of this opin- 

 ion, recommend the destruction of all punctured fruit, either 

 by gathering it up daily or allowing swine to run at large 

 among the trees; and I have read of great benefits being 

 realized from this course. Fowls also have been recom- 

 mended ; and salt has been relied on by many, sprea^iing 

 it on the surface of the ground under the trees, as far as 

 the branches extend; — the last has been said to be com- 

 pletely effectual. 



Various other things have been proposed. There are 

 some writers, however, who contend that the insect is able 

 to fly a great distance; and consequently all, or either of 

 the above modes, are no prevention at all ; and destroying 

 all the defective fruit will not diminish their number the 



