166 Pomological Gossip. 



in Horticulture, are of little or no value, compared with that 

 of shaking the trees, and catching the "rascals." The only 

 thing is to know the exact period when to commence and 

 leave off the operation alluded to, so as to save as much 

 labor as possible ; on this point we are pleased to state, that 

 an amateur, who spent a greater part of the last summer in 

 ascertaining the habits of the curculio, has promised us the 

 results of his investigations, which we hope to give in our 

 May number. 



To cultivators who have trees just coming into bearing, or 

 new varieties, of which they wish to procure a few specimens 

 of fruit, when there is not sufficient to take the trouble to 

 shake the trees, the plan adopted by Mr. Wilson, of Essex 

 county, as detailed by him in the Transactions of the Essex 

 Agricultural Society, seems to us most excellent, and well 

 worthy of recommendation. It is as follows : — 



" I will here mention a successful experiment for the pro- 

 tection of the plum against the curculio. Last year I made 

 two bags of old thin muslin, and drew them over two limbs, 

 about the time the fruit set. Within each of these bags I 

 saved a few beautiful plums, and not a plum did I save on 

 any other part of the tree. Taking courage at this good 

 success, I bought, last spring, a few yards of bonnet lining 

 which I made into bags according to the size of the limbs I 

 wished to cover. These I drew on the limbs of several trees, 

 some when the plums had set, and others when they were 

 in the blow ; for I found the enemy had made their appear- 

 ance while the trees were in bloom. Under each of these 

 bags I saved plums, apricots, and nectarines, upon limbs of 

 twelve different trees ; and these were the only ones I saved 

 this year. The first of August I removed the bags, the cur- 

 culio having disappeared. Some may think this would be 

 too expensive, but I think not. The muslin would last many 

 years ; and by training the trees, or the branches in the 

 right form, they might easily be covered, to the profit of the 

 firait-grower. Be this as it may, I have found it of great use 

 to me, as I have bought a variety of choice plum trees, from 



