60 



IKJUEIOUS INSECTS 



this apt to be the case with such as- are planted early. 

 We see, therefore, how easily this insect may be intro- 

 duced into districts previously free from it, by the care- 

 less planting of buggy peas, for it has been demonstrated 

 that the beetle issues as readily from peas planted in the 

 earth, as it does from those stored away in the bin. All 

 peas intended for seed should be examined, and ifc can 

 very soon be determined whether or not they are infested. 

 The thin covering over the hole of the peas that contain 

 weevils, and which may be called the eye-spot, is 

 generally somewhat discolored, and by this eye-spot, 

 those peas which ought not to be planted, can soon be 

 distinguished. "Where this covering is off, and the pea 

 presents the appearance of fig. 36, l, there is little danger, 

 for in that case the weevil has either left, or, if still 

 within the pea, is usually dead. It would of course be 

 tedious to carefully examine a large lot of peas, one by 

 oiie, in order to separate those that are buggy, and the 

 most expeditious way of separating the sound from the 

 unsound, is to throw them into water, when the sound 

 ones will mostly sink, and the unsound swim. 



There are, however, other and more certain means of 

 preventing the injuries of this insect, and whenever 

 agriculture shall have progressed to that point, where by 

 proper and thorougli organization, all the farmers of a 

 county or of a district can, by vote, mutually agree to 

 carry out a measure with determination, and unison, then 

 this insect can soon be exterminated; for it is easy to 

 perceive that such a result would be accomplished by 

 combinedly ceasing to cultivate any peas at all, for one 

 single year! Until some such united action can be 

 brought about, we shall never become entirely exempt 

 from this insect's depredations, for no matter how sound 

 the peas may be that I plant, my vines are sure to be 

 more or less visited by the beetles, as long as I have 

 slovenly neighbors. Yet^ comparatively, my peas will 



