INSECTS. 



175 



abroad in the early part of the day, when the dew is on 

 the trees, or in bad weather ; they may then be efFectualiy 

 destroyed by crushing them in the nest ; this attention, con- 

 tinued a short time every spring, will destroy those in 

 existence, and will prevent their increase in future years : 

 if left till grown strong, they wander from their nests, and 

 cannot be effectually overcome without great trouble and 

 expense." — Coxe on Fruit Trees* 



The Hon. Timothy Pickering, in a letter to the corre- 

 sponding secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural Soci- 

 ety, has recommended an implement for the destruction of 

 caterpillars. It is made by inserting some hog's bristles 

 between twisted wires, in such manner as to form a cylin- 

 drical brush, which will present bristles on every side. 

 This is attached to a pole of such length as the trees may 

 require, and the caterpillars are brought down by it, and 

 then crushed. Other methods have been proposed, such as 

 casting over the tree a few handfuls of ashes, in the morning 

 before the dew is dissipated from the foliage, or after a show- 

 er of rain. A strong whitewash of fresh stone-lime, applied 

 by the means of a mop, or sponge fixed to the end of a 

 pole, strong soap-suds, spirits of turpentine, a little oil of any 

 kind, particularly blubber oil, are likewise fatal to the in- 

 sects. But, perhaps, the most effectual remedy is the hand^ 

 by which the insects may easily be removed at an early 

 stage ; but if this be neglected, it is thought that the next 

 best remedy is the use of Col. Pickering's brush as above. 

 In applying either of these remedies, care must be taken 

 to choose that part of the day, when the caterpillars are in 

 their nests. They rarely quit them till nine o'clock, and 

 generally return to them again about twelve. 



CuRcuLio. — This is a small bug, or beetle, which perfo- 

 rates the young fruit of the pear, apple, and all stone fruits, 

 and deposits its eggs in them. The eggs soon hatch, and a 

 small maggot is produced, which feeds either on the pulp 

 of the fruit, or on the kernel of the seed ; for the tastes and 

 habits of the different species are not similar. In the stone 

 fruits, this injury destroys their growth, and they fall with 

 their little enemy within them. The insect retreats into the 

 earth, and passes the winter in the chrysalis state, and comes 

 forth just as the young fruit is forming, or the petals of the 

 flow^ers are falling, to renew its mischievous labours. 

 This insect continues its depredations from the first of May 

 until autumn. Dr. James Tilton, of Wilmington, Dela- 

 ware, in an article on this subjeci^ published in the Ameri- 



