LOSSES DUE THERETO. 27 
LOSSES DUE TO THE PLUM CURCULIO. 
It is difficult to make even an approximate estimate of the shrink- 
age in value resulting from the attack of tin- plum curculio on its 
several food plants. While adequate statistics are not available 
on which to make accurate calculations of the value of these several 
crops in the territory occupied by the insect, an attempt has been 
made to indicate as closely as possible the approximate annual money 
loss from the curculio. These data were published, as a part of an 
article on the losses from deciduous-fruit insects, in the Report of the 
National Conservation Commission, Volume III, page 309. In this 
article the figures for the apple crop were obtained from the American 
Agriculturist and other figures from the Twelfth Census. That 
portion relating to the curculio is quoted below. 
Average apple crop in the infested territory, 1897 to 1907. 
Barrels 34. 292. 700 
Estimated shrinkage of first-class fruit. 10 per cent 3. 429. 270 
Value, at |1.25 per barrel >4. 286, 587 
Value of fruit as culls, at 30 cents per barrel 1. 02^. 781 
Total losses to apples 3.2" 
On apples this insect receives but little if any treatment aside from that given in 
codling-moth treatment. 
There are no available figures on the yield of peaches. It was thus necessary to 
determine this as accurately as possible on the basis of the number of trees, and a 
conservative yield which each should give. 
Trees in infested territory 90. 931. 542 
Assuming that one-fourth bear every year, producing an average of 1 crate 
per tree, valued at 50 cents, net value $11, 366. 443 
Estimated annual loss of 33 per cent 
Cost of spraying, jarring, etc 300, 000 
Total 38,814 
There are likewise no figures on the yield of the plum, prune, etc., and the yields of 
these fruits were determined in a similar manner. 
Trees in infested territory 15. in N 
Assuming that one-fourth bear fruit every year at the rate of 1 crate per 
tree, at 50 cents value > 188 
Estimated annual loss of 50 per cent 994. 149 
< lost of treatment, spraying, jarring, etc 250, 000 
Total i. 244. 149 
I' MAI S. 
Apple 
p each 58,814 
Plum, prune, etc .149 
Total 8,040 
Cost of treatments ,. ooo 
Grand total 
