46 INSECTS. 



reach as far as the branches extend, and made -wide enough by- 

 sewing, if necessary, two breadths together, may be fastened a* 

 each end to a strip of lath, or any light stick that will serve to 

 keep the cloth extended. By using two of these sheets, spreading 

 one on each side of the tree so as to cover the ground under the 

 branches, and having a place cut out of that side of the sheets 

 next to the tree, in order to receive the trunk of the tree, all the 

 insects that fall from the tree will drop on the sheets, and can be 

 readily seen and gathered up. After spreading the sheets on the 

 ground, a smart blow should be struck on the end of the iron 

 bolt with a heavy hammer. This will jar the tree to the ex- 

 tremities of the branches, and cause the curculios that are in the 

 tree to drop down and feign themselves dead. Having provided 

 a vial, with some alcohol or strong whiskey in it, the curculios 

 may be picked up and put into the phial for safe keeping. 

 Or a wide-mouthed bottle may be used, filled with saw-dust, 

 which is kept moist with alcohol. Shaking the tree wiU not 

 answer the purpose ; that wiU not bring the curculio down, it is 

 necessary to jar the tree, and if a bolt of iron is not let into the 

 trunk, upon which to strike, care must be taken not to bruize the 

 tree by striking on the bark. It may be often convenient to saw 

 off a stout hmb, leaving a few inches projecting from the trunk, 

 and to strike the blow on the end of this stump of the limb. 

 This will answer the purpose of the iron bolt, and save the baik 

 from being bruised. 



The best time of the day for catching the curculio is before 

 seven o'clock in the morning, and after seven in the evening. 

 Both morning and evening should be tried, for in some seasons 

 the curculio will be found to be more numerous in the evening, 

 and in other seasons more numerous in the morning. The season 

 of the year for catching them is as soon as the blossoms fall, 

 which is usually about the twenty-fifth of May, and should be 

 continued as long as the curculio are found. They will be 

 usually very abundant upon the plum trees, both wild and culti- 

 vated, and upon the cherry trees, especially the sweet varieties. 



