CURCULIO FOUND IN WARTS. 
79 
Journal.” The grubs, found by Professor Peck in the tumors 
of the cherry-tree, went into the ground on the 6tb of July, 
and on the 30th of the same month, or twenty-four days 
from their leaving the bark, the perfect insects began to rise, 
and were soon ready to deposit their eggs. 
The plum, still more than the cherry tree, is subject to a 
disease of the small limbs, that shows itself in the form of large 
irregular warts, of a black color. Professor Peck referred 
this disease, as well as that of the cherry-tree, to the agency 
of insects, hut was uncertain whether to attribute it to his 
cherry-weevil ‘‘ or to another species of the same genus.” 
It was his opinion, that “the seat of the disease is in the bark. 
The sap is diverted from its regular course, and is absorbed 
entirely by the bark, which is very much increased in thick¬ 
ness ; the cuticle bursts, the swelling becomes irregular, and 
is formed into black lumps, with a cracked, uneven, granu¬ 
lated surface. The wood, besides being deprived of its nutri¬ 
ment, is very much compressed, and the branch above the 
tumor perishes.” Dr. Burnett rejected the idea of the insect 
origin of this disease, which he considered as a kind of fungus, 
arising in the alburnum, from an obstruction of the vessels, 
and bursting through the bark, which became involved in the 
disease. These tumors appear to me to begin between the 
bark and wood. They are at first soft, cellular, and full of 
sap, but finally become hard and woody. But whether 
caused by vitiated sap, as Dr. Burnett supposed, or by the 
irritating punctures of insects, which is the prevailing opin¬ 
ion, or whatever be their origin and seat, they form an 
appropriate bed for the growth of numerous little parasitical 
plants or fungi^ to which botanists give the name of Sphceria 
morhosa. These plants are the minute black granules that 
cover the surface of the wart, and give to it its black color. 
When fully matured, they are filled with a gelatinous fluid, 
and have a little pit or depression on their summit. They 
come to their growth, discharge their volatile seed, and die 
in the course of a single summer ; and with them perishes 
