1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
175 
$623 for fruits; $142 for vegetables; and $155 for gar¬ 
dens and grounds. The same society has offered for 
1851, the following sums in prizes: For fruits, $500; for 
plants, flowers, &c., $700; for vegetables, $250; pros¬ 
pective prizes for new varieties, $750. 
The Curculio. 
In answer to repeated inquiries, now that the curculio 
is about to visit us, we shall briefly give the mode of de¬ 
stroying this insect, by jarring down on white sheets, ac¬ 
cording to the best improvements which have been 
made. 
First , with regard to the mode of beating the tree,— 
if the bark of the trunk or branches is struck, it soon 
separates from the wood and makes a bad wound; and 
if the mallet is wrapped in cloth, or cushioned, the blows 
become much less effective, and only a part of the insects 
are felled. Besides, even a cushioned mallet will after 
a while injure the bark. This difficulty may be avoided 
in two ways,—either by sawing off a small branch, leav¬ 
ing a short stump to thump against; or by forming a con¬ 
cave block so as to fit the trunk, and striking against 
this block,—the force of the blows on the bark becoming 
so softened as not to bruise the bark, in the same way 
that a hammer does not injure the knees when a lap 
stone is interposed. 
Secondly , with regard to the easiest way to catch and 
kill the falling insects. If white sheets simply are spread 
under the tree, either several persons are needed to 
carry and spread them, or much time is consumed by a 
single individual. The work is made expeditious by 
stretching each sheet on light wooden frames, two sepa¬ 
rate frames being attached to each sheet, so that it may 
be folded or doubled together like the leaves of a news¬ 
paper, or the covers of a book. The great advantages 
of this arrangement are,—one operator may walk singly 
through the orchard, with two such folding-sheets in his 
hand, and extend these in a moment without assistance, 
under each tree; and after jarring down the curculios, 
instead of being compelled to search over the white sur¬ 
face for them, and to crush them singly between thumb 
and finger, the sheets are folded so as to throw insects, 
punctured fruit and all, into a pail of hot water. A few 
minutes are thus sufficient to go over a large fruit gar¬ 
den. 
As to the efficacy of this mode, it is scarcely necessa¬ 
ry to repeat here that it depends almost wholly on being 
unremittingly applied at least once a day, from the mo¬ 
ment the young fruit begins to set, when not so large as 
a pea, till no more curculios can be found, or for several 
weeks. In one experiment, 18 of these insects were 
caught from a small plum tree at the first trial, yet by 
regular daily attention, a good crop was secured on this 
as well as on many other trees, which for previous years 
had never ripened one. Combined with the practice of 
confining pigs or poultry, this remedy can scarcely fail 
in the most unfavorable localities or in the most destruc¬ 
tive years. 
The Working Farmer.— The third volume of this 
publication was commenced on the first of March, under 
the charge of A. Longett as publisher, and Prof. J. J. 
Mapes as editor. We presume the work will contiuue 
to support the character it has so well maintained since its 
commencement. It is issued monthly at one dollar 
a year, in advance. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS- 
The Flower Garden ; or Breck’s Book of Flowers ; 
in which are described all the various hardy herbaceous 
perennials, annuals, shrubby plants, and evergreen trees, 
desirable for ornamental purposes, with directions for 
their cultivation, by Joseph Breck. Boston: John 
P. Jewett & Co. 
In this book, Mr. Breck has supplied a want long felt 
by a portion of the American public, while at the same 
time, the information which the work dispenses, is cal¬ 
culated to remove one of the greatest obstacles to the 
cultivation of flowers in this country. The author is 
well known as a successful horticulturist and florist, and 
his practical writings, as editor of the New England 
Farmer and the Horticultural Register, may be taken 
as showing the general character of the work before us. 
Its object is the “ diffusion of general knowledge and 
practical information in relation to the floral kingdom, 
particularly for hardy trees, shrubs and plants, desirable 
for the embellishment of the flower-garden and pleasure 
ground.” It is a handsome volume of upwards of 300 
pages 12mo., printed in good style, and we presume 
will meet with an extensive sale. 
The Gardener’s Text-Book: containing practical 
directions upon the formation and management of the 
Kitchen Garden, and for the culture and domestic use 
of its Vegetables, Fruits and Medicinal Herbs, by Peter 
Adam Schenck. Boston: John P. Jewett & Co. 
This is a manual of gardening by a writer who appears 
to speak from his own experience. So far as we have 
examined, his directions are clear, comprehensive, and 
safe. It will be found a valuable aid to the kitchen 
gardener, furnishing many useful ideas and suggestions 
in regard to the proper composition of the soil, and the 
treatment required by the different articles which he 
may wish to cultivate. 
Cattle, by W. Youatt and W. C. L. Martin, being 
a Treatise on the Breeds, Management, and Diseases, 
comprising a full history of the various races; origin, 
breeding, and merits; their capacity for beef and milk; 
the nature and treatment of their diseases; the whole 
forming a comple guide for the Farmer, the Amateur, 
and Veterinary Surgeon, with 100 illustrations. Edited 
by A. Stevens. New-York: C. M. Saxton. 
Youatt’s work on Cattle is one of established merit, 
and Martin’s, published at a later period, is also of high 
character and value; but it strikes us as a great objec¬ 
tion to the work whose title is given above, that there is 
no rule by which the reader can know what portions be¬ 
long to the respective English authors, or what altera¬ 
tions or additions have been made by the American edi¬ 
tor. There are, however, some additions which are ack¬ 
nowledged —of these we shall take occasion to speak here¬ 
after. The work is “got up” in very handsome style. 
“ The Soil of the South.” —We have received two 
numbers of a monthly journal with this title, published 
at Columbus, Georgia. It is edited by Chas. A. Pea¬ 
body, Esq., and Col. James M. Chambers. It appears 
to be conducted with good judgment, and will, we trust, 
be the means of dispensing much valuable information 
in regard to agriculture. The terms are one dollar a 
year, in advance. 
