86 



Missouri, namely, Sigalphus curcidionis (Fig. 56) an&^Porizon conotracheli (Fig. 57). I 

 am not aware that these friendly insects have yet been taken in Ontario, but it is quite 

 possible that they may be working unobserved among us. A detailed description of 

 both these insects may be found in the Report for 1876. 



Fig. 56. Fig. 57. 



As already stated the curculio does not scruple, in the absence of the plum, to attack 

 the peach, pear and apple. I was greatly amused during last season in watching the 

 little Turk at his work upon our young pears and apples. I had a favourite pear tree the 

 fruit of which I had never before seen, which blossomed nicely and set some five speci- 

 mens, leading me to hope that I should be able to test their qualities when mature, but in 

 a few days, lo the crescent ! the familiar distinguishing mark of our fruit enemy was 

 already seen upon them, and in time they all fell prematurely from the boughs. In many 

 instances the same insect was noticed working upon the apples. As I was gathering in 

 my winter apples, a few days ago, I came to a Northern Spy tree, a very large propor- 

 tion of whose fruit was exceedingly ill-shaped, especially all around the lower branches. 

 The fruit was disfigured by deep indentations and corresponding swellings or knobs. 

 Upon examination it was found that those indentures on the fruit contained the mark of 

 the familiar crescent of the plum curculio which probably will account for their deformed 

 appearance. It would appear that the insect had cut the tender skin of the young fruit, 

 which had interfered with the circulation and development in that place. The egg de- 

 posited had not hatched, or if it had the little grub had died. The crab-apples were by 

 far the worst affected ; scarcely a sample matured on many fine trees, and a number of 

 fine young Tetopsky apple trees were totally deprived of their promising crop by the 

 same enemy. Under such circumstances constant vigilance is necessary to secure a crop of 

 fruit, and if the annual increase of insect life goes on unchecked it is easily seen that 

 good fruit will become scarce and more expensive. 



The remedies which have been recommended are numerous, and may be divided into 

 two classes, viz., those that kill and those that merely deter. Under the first class may be 

 mentioned jarring the trees and gathering up the insects. This is by far the best remedy at 

 present known. P. Barry, in his excellent work " The Fruit Garden," says that this method 

 was first recommended by David Thomas, forty years ago, and that on their extensive grounds 

 it is successfully carried out. Mr. Downing also speaks highly of jarring, and recommends 

 that it be repeated daily as long as the insects continue to make their appearance. Re- 

 peated trials have proven beyond question that this rather tedious mode is a very effec- 

 tual one if persisted in. At a late meeting of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, at 

 Sarnia, Mr. James Lambert, of Sarnia, said : " He had tried the jarring plan with three trees 

 and these were breaking down with fruit." Page 33, of 1 878. In the November number of 

 the Gardener's Monthly, just at hand, it is related of Mr. Cobleigh and Mr. Willard, of 

 Geneva, X. Y., who are noted and ( extensive plum growers, " They practice shaking the 

 trees, but their method is different from any one we have met with before. They have 

 two light frames on which light muslin is spread. They look like huge barn doors but 

 they are very light. These are placed under the trees when they are to be shaken. 

 Then they have a long handled sort of crutch ; the arm-rester as we would say if it were 

 a crutch, being nicely padded to prevent injury to the bark. This is pushed up and the 

 branches jolted and the "little Turk " comes down and is killed by the boys when it falls on 



