Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-08-31
Observations on certain hsects that prey upo,
Peaches and Piums.

Peaches and PiAns.
StR,-knowing the great pleasure you feel in
promoting every specirs OF science calculated
to advance the brst Interests ni your country,
herewith transmit for your examination. n
few peaches and plums, es they have recently
fallen from their respective trees, which ex
pect upon examination you viii hnd 10 be Ia
iected by the same species OF WORM that coca
sionally finds It's way TO The roots Of the peach
tree, and which, II not removed ihet elrom sonu
occasions its death. The idea that the A.
which deposits the egg oil tins worm, prefers the
gum for lis repository, | nave Hlways consider
ed erroneous, aud which think the examiui
lion Of the fruit send you will evidently prove.
An Easy and sure means OF destroying them, is
10 gather up houi under the trees the fruit thus
infected, giving IL To the hogs or otherwise de-.
sifoying ii. In every situation where | have
examined the fallen peaches, from frees not IN
the vicinity nfbearing plurus, have found ihem
almost invariably continuing the young peach
worm, the egg oil which must undoubtedly hay
been deposited In the gernen very young
fruit Of this present season, On the ground /
occupy AT Murray hui, there are 40 bearing
plum trees, aud every peach that have exam
med under The trees there, has had the young
werm in il. But on Examining rhe peaches n
the garden of Charles Oakley, ESQ was n lIttle
frnit, and scarcely any of them containing any
appearance OF the worm. Ills garden contains
a number OF fine plum trees intefmixrd with the
peaches aud the fruit of his plum trees has
allen on IN great quantities, every one oi whlch
appears 10 contain the same species of worm 1s
the peach. From which Circumstance | am
persuaded the fly prefers the plum 10 the pcach
for the depository of lis eggs, and that conse-
quenlly the planning Of plum trees amongst
our pea ches would be one gre at means of pre-
serving tho fruit Of the latter. am aware thai
the destruction of our pnms has been ascribed
10 the attacks of the curculio however correct
Is statement may have been IN other SEASONS
~ situations | know not, but II appears evident
10 me thai the same fly hal dcposits the egg Of
the peach worm upon the peaches, deposits II IN
the plum and thai the Cnrcuos, instead OF
being the cause ofthc plnms falling premature.
y, actually contribute in a very eminent de-
gree to the preservation oil our fruit by destroy.
ing the peach worm after The ffuIt containing
hem fall upon the ground
Whether the curCnlio deposits its eggs IN the
fruit while the tree or after II falls do not
know. lit does while on the Tree, they must
take much longer time 10 hatch than that oil
the peach worm, which have often found
quar- er of an inch in lengh whe0 the fruit tail
The curculio have never seen til several
weeks after The frni had fallen. | have then
found them 10 punches IN a single fruit, win
the remains of the peach worm dissolved into n
soft watery like substance hut | have neVrf
found peach worm alive IN any Of the ifnn At
Ter the curcuios enter it. The curcnos, even
III their youngest arvm slate, are easily discern
ibe t(rom that of the egefia eSlioso or penct
worm by their feet aud ferlers As well as their
small wiry aud active appearance. But as !
have sent you samples Of both in their native
livery, you will be able 10 correct m" II | am
under any mistake MS TO thcir titles &c.
am sir, " hh great respect, yours truly,
SAML. l.. MITCHELL. WA. WILSON.
NeO York, Juiy I'm, 1929