Nebraska advertiser., 1856-08-02

quainted with the ~corculio, both by
sight and character. There ought to
be a good drawing Of this insect, but
we have seen none; and at this season
of the year, we cannot have one pre-
pared. It is however, a DARK thrown
bug, about a quarter Of an inch lOng,
and of singular form, having a slender
neck and head. When it drops from
the tree, it lies still, pretending to be
dead; or if a dried blossom or leaf be
near, where it can hide, it moves
cautiously under, fearing to be seen in
motion. When crushed between the
thumb and finger, it feels like Indian
meal, and like no other insect that We
have examined.
1t is timid; and when hogs, sheep,
or cattle pass frequently under the
trees, it is scarcer than in more retired
places. Trees that stand near a door
where there is much passing, are often
entirely exempt from its visits; and the
same result occurs where they stand
in. a lane or barnyard. Thelate Thos.
Forrest Of Germantown, near Phila-
delphia, tied n end Of a cord to a
plum tree, and the other end to his
pump-handle, so that it shook the tree
whenever they drew water. It saved
the tree.
This insect on one point is very
sagacious. 1t is unwilling to have its
progeny drop on the pavement, orinto
water. The same shrewd horticulturist
: set his nectarine trees leaning over the
fsh-pond, and not a curculio disturbed
them. In regard to pavements, we
have had several accounts Of their
efficacy. A friend Of ours had his
plums to ripen perfectly over a pave
ment, while others, without this protec-
ton, though otherwise fayorably stu
ated, were entirely destroyed.
Only a few trees, however, can be
, guarded in this way. For the fruit
garden, we want something more com
i. ~prehensive, and have already referred
to the services of swine and poultry.
They devour much Of the wormy fruit,
and the young ~cuFculios along with it;
but some of the insects probably es-
cape, besides all such as leave the fruit
: before. it fals.* How long they live,
! is not known; but if we may judge
from their difference of size, it maybe
many years; and to this company, the
!, new brood is annually added. Unless
the swine and poultry, therefore, can
induce them to migrate, the fruit must
> suffer greatly from their ravages, and
S. Oh has been u experience.
Finding many of our trees nearly
: unproductiye; we determined in tht
early part Of last summer, to call these
depredators to account. Accordingly
/ we followed the same plan that We
recommended some years ago in the
Nea0 York FGr7ner-spread sheet.
under the trees, and AIRED the branches
! violently. The little ~marauders taker
! by surprise, fell down by dozens; anC
the contrast of c%olors, enabled us t.
detect them at a glance. We chose
the cool of the morning for this pur
pose, when they were slightly benumb
: ed; and preserved till we had destroy
ed nearly seventeen hundred. In con
sequence, all the trees that we visited
bore fruitin abundance; and to prov
that our labor was rewarded, treet tina
= was overlooked bore three apricots
while another of less size bore half ;
busheI..
. During its migrations, the c@urculic
j doubtless uses its wings; and near it,
native spot itmay occasionally fly int
the tree; bdtfromseveral circumstance,
we conclude that it generally ascend,
: by crawling. Withthis belief, circular
tin troughs have been fastened round
the trees; and being filed, and KEEP
filed, with water, have been found use
= ful-for this insect is no navigator
y These appendages, however, should b.
applied very early in the spring, before
it gets up the trees. Afterward they
are not likely to be of any benef-
= whatever.
u When the earlier accounts of the
curculio were published, it was believed
u to be identical with the worms that in.
: fest the apple, pear, and ounce; but
} Noyes Darling of New Haven, more
than ten years ago, discovered thai
y they were very distinct: and we re.
= peated his experiment with the same
ID result. It is a d~ark-gray miller thai
attacks the apple and the pear. an6
Il L probably the ounce. 1t was also
thought that the curculio continued it,
4 4 ravages until autumn; but the same
= sagacious horticulturalist found thatit,
work was finished before midsummer
The mark which it leaves on tn,
= fruit that it p~unctures, is in form of
crescent; and We have never cen tina
mark except on stone fruit.
The DOM of the peach generally
protects it against the curcuho, but tn,
nectarine, which is only a smooth skin
Id variety of peculiar flavor, often suffer
er even more than the plum or the APP