142 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



of cattle have died with this diseaise within the last eight or ten 

 years. I lost two out of three attacked, (my whole stock then,) 

 about eight years ago. At that time it was very fatal. It has 

 since either entirely disappeared in this vicinity, or cases have 

 become so rare as not to attract public attention. I think Dr. 

 "Waters, of New Utrecht, L. I., could give valuable information, 

 both with respect to statistics of this disease and its treatment, 

 as his practice was extensive during its prevalence. Whatever 

 may be the facts in reference to its recent introduction into Mas- 

 sachusetts direct from Holland, is it not strange that old Kings 

 and Queens counties must be first in almost everything that is 

 bad, as Avell as to occupy the advanced outpost in what is good 

 in agriculture and its adjuncts ? It was here that the Hessian 

 fly, imported with the hired mercenaries of Great Britain who 

 were engaged in the battle of Long Island, first made its appear- 

 ance. It was here where premature ripe peaches first ripened to 

 supply the markets of New York, indicating the disease called 

 " Yellows." Without having any definite facts to bear on the 

 order of time, I may add that the destruction of cherry trees, 

 plum trees and their fruit, and the Newtown pippin apple (origi- 

 nating in Newtown, L. I.,) is more complete here than in any 

 other section of the country ; strong presumptive evidence that 

 the great enemy of fruit, the curculio, first raised his standard 

 and olbtained a foothold on our island. I might add many other 

 destructive insects, &c. of lesser note, many of which are now 

 first becoming alarming at other points, old customers to us, 

 some of which are already becoming the prey of parasites and 

 remedies, and have ceased to be formidable. But I meant to 

 have only called the attention of the Club to the cattle disease, 

 which I have exceeded." 



His allusion to the curculio waked up quite a discussion upon 

 that subject. 



THE CURCULIO. 



Wm. R. Prince. — Sylvester Rowe, of Flushing, has tried expe- 

 riments on plum trees for three years, to prevent the curculio, 

 and has fully succeeded. Some trees that have not borne for ten 

 years, after fumigation by Mr. Rowe, bore full crops of plums, 

 while all around the trees were entirely denuded of fruit. Mr. 

 Prince said that he was fully satisfied that the remedy was a 

 sure one. 



