50 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



We are to observe, then, that there are two gen- 

 erations in one season, nf these insects, and this 

 fact it is important to know; for if the first gene- 

 ration in the larva and beetle stages is destroyed, 

 we have little to fear from the second, which ope- 

 rates in July. 



The kinds of fruit, and the only kinds, which the 

 Curculio injures, as far as I have observed, are the 

 plum, apricot, nectarine, peach, cherry and apple, 

 and these I have placed in the order in which he 

 seems to prefer ihem. But I would remark, that 

 he is not the only insect which makes the apple 

 wormy. Tlie codling moth does great injury to 

 the apple crop, and the caterpillar of this moth 

 should not be mistaken for the larva of the Curcu- 

 lio. 



The Curculio does not usually injure the cherry 

 crop excessively, but it is remarkable what a cause 

 of general devastation he proves to the plum crop, 

 when he is suffered to go on in his work unmolest- 

 ed. The writer has known large plum trees, load- 

 ed with fruit in the early part of June, upon which 

 nearly every plum would be punctured, and con- 

 sequently all would be lost to the cultivator. 



The objection in the community against culti- 

 vating this fruit, is upon the complaint, or fact, 

 that the plums will not hang on until ripe ; and 

 nurserymen are often questioned if they know of 

 any kinds that will not drop before they become 

 matured. 



As great a pest as this little insect is to the 

 fruit-grower, I am not willing that he should be 

 loaded with more sins than he deserves. He has 

 been charged with being the cause of the fungus 

 excresences on the plum tree, of which he will not 

 plead guilty. True, his iarva2, and also those of 

 some other insects, it is said, are found in this fun- 

 gus, and this is the reason why this disease has 

 been attributed to him. My reasons for saying he 

 is not the cause of this disease, may be offered in 

 another place. 



It is remarkable how unconfined or unlocated 

 the Curculio appears to be. I formerly believed 

 that he was limited nearly to the ground, under 

 and near the tree where he was produced, and that 

 if the earth under it was paved, or so fixed as to 

 prevent the larvae from descending into it, that 

 that tree would be secure the following season, at 

 least. But more extensive observation has taught 

 me otherwise. This fact I consider a very impor- 

 tant point in this insect's character. In 1838, a 

 new apple tree came into bearing, having three ap- 

 ples upon it, situated 20 rods distant from any 

 fruit-bearing tree, and I hoped to test the quality 

 of the apples thereby; but I was disappointed. In 

 the first of July, I noticed the spoiler's mark upon 

 these apples, and after a while ihey dropped off. 

 I have searched after, and found him upon an ap- 

 ple tree in a pasture, which stood alone and at a 

 distance from any other fruit tree. A plum tree 

 trained at the east end of my house, bore for the 

 first time in the year 1841. I watched the fruit, 

 and, about the usual time, found his mark upon 

 some of the plums, and secured ihem. From these 

 observations, 1 am led to the supposition, at least, 

 that he may not be dependent altogether upon the 

 before meii'ioned fruits for the propagation of his 

 race ; but when fruits are wanting, he finds other 

 receptacles for his eggs. But this is a conjecture 

 simply. No doubt he is capable of flying to a 

 considerable distance. 



Dr. Hams stated lo me that he was not certain 

 that the plum weevil does feed in the beetle form, 



AUG. 16, 1843 



though he rnthor supposed he did. But whether 

 he docs or does not feed, his organs of taste and 

 smell are rather obsolete or disused, for we are 

 able to state, from observation, that many kinds of 

 odorous bodies which are obnoxious to many in- 

 sects, are not so to him. 



I have tried camphor upon the tree, watered it 

 with solution of soap and of tobacco, and I do n't 

 know that ho was disturbed any further than he 

 would be mechanically by their application. 



I might here notice the inadequacy of other 

 measures which have been recommended to frus- 

 trate his operations, but prefer to proceed to a state- 

 ment of those means which will ensure success if 

 persevered in, and prove satisfactory. 



As the notion is prevalent that he crawls up the 

 body of the tree, I would state that he flies on to it, 

 and therefore it is useless to apply any preventa- 

 tive to keep him from ascending that way. 



I am free to state that this insect cannot be corn- 

 batted without labor, and the result secured, will 

 very far more than compensate for all labor be- 

 stowed, even in a pecuniary point of view. 



Believing, from my observation, that he cannot 

 be successfully opposed by preparations of soap, 

 and infusions of odorous bodies thrown on to the 

 tree, by means of a syringe, I proceed to state the 

 course which has been followed with success, so 

 far as I know. 



Our rule of action should be, direct aggression 

 upon him, both in the beetle and larva forms. In 

 the pupa stage he lies in the ground secured from 

 our search. 



Watched, as the plum and fruit trees always 

 should be, by the gardener, as soon as his mark is 

 seen on the plums, which will be generally as soon 

 as the plum is left naked by the blossom, a sheet 

 of sufficient dimensions should be suspended be- 

 neath the tree, by two or three individuals, or other- 

 wise; then give the tree a sudden rap or jar, and 

 the insect immediately falls upon it, and, feigning 

 himself dead, very much resembles a raisin seed 

 in form — (Fig. 7.) 



to fear from the second generation, which work 

 July. Children, who are always urged by impi 

 sive curiosity, to examine and investigate any m 

 and curious object— of an insect, flower, or pehl 

 —are ready and suflicient hands to perform mu 

 of this work, and gladly will they perform it wh 

 promised a share of the product. 



This mode of protecting and preserving plui 

 from the Curculio, I have always found to sTiccet 



I am aware that the labor required may 

 thought an objection to this mode of warfare a: 

 that the result will not warrant the time and pain 

 but if the orchardist will tar his apple trees to pr 

 tect against the canker-worm, and the garden 

 spend time to kill the cut-worm, and water 1; 

 plants in a dry season, surely this course ia al 

 justifiable;— the result will justify the means. 



A tree standing near the door, if jarred ai 

 shook several times a day, as it may be passe 

 would be likely to succeed, as this course wou 

 discommode and frustrate the insect in his wor 

 Plum trees, standing in a hog-yard, frequen 

 ly sustain partial crops, for the hogs are frequen 

 ly, during the day, rubbing against them, and ai 

 pretty sure to eat all these that fall to the earth. 



Plums can be saved, even after the egg is lai 

 in them, by a trivial operation, if done "before 

 has hatched ; and this operation I have practice 

 successfully and repeatedly. 



You may smile at a manoeuvre which is to dt 

 stroy an almost infinitesimal egg, with an instri 

 ment made of a quill, like a tooth-pick ; but thi 

 the fruit-amateur will do with pleasure, if thereb 

 he can save a plum on a new young tree to tef 

 the fruit of which he has been waiting patientl 

 with hopeful anxiety. It is well worth°the whil 

 to do this on low trees, in point of economy. 



It may be well to remark, that the egg is depos 

 ited in the inner circle of the incision, under 

 email discolored portion of the skin of the plun 

 and the operation consists in removing this discol 

 ored portion of the skin, and scooping out the egj 

 with the instrument — (Fig. 8.) 



(Fig. 7) 



The insect, when shook from the tree, assumes 

 the above form — either that of the upper or lower 

 figure, and keeps the feigned appearance a mo. 

 ment or two. 



All the Curculios on the sheet should be crushed 

 between the thumb and finger, and all the stung 

 plums that fall from the tree should be put into the 

 fire. 



I would impress upon the mind of the gardener 

 the importance of assiduously attending to the de- 

 struction of the Curculio in the month of Juno. 

 The trees should bo shaken twice or three times 

 daily, certainly in the morning and evening, in or- 

 der that the beetles may be crushed, and all the 

 wounded fruit gathered and put into the fire. I 

 have observed that, usually, after the twentyfifth 

 of July he is not to be found. 



If the first generation, which operate in June, 

 are well destroyed, wc have less, yea, very little, 



Fig. 8.— Showing the melhod of deBtroyinR the eee. 

 with a quill. *" 



The desire which has been manifested in the 

 community to possess a knowledge of this insect 

 the manner in which he operates, and a means of 

 destroying him, must be my apology for thus far 

 prolonging these remarks. 



