Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-23

controversy about remedies for the extermina-
ton OF the Curculio. The discussions will of
course end in nothing useful as to any effectual
mode to rid the plum tree OF this destructive
insect Just because no prescribed method that
can be suggested to get rid Of it, will pay for
the labor involved. They cannot be driven
away by any method yet devised. They may
be Jared from the tree when the work is
properly done, and constantly done, and the
tree not too large. This, however, would not
be remunerative process, even upon premis-
es where no plums can be raised without it,
There is one fact connected with the curcu.
lilo and plum cultivation, which is frequently
lost sight of, and which tells he whole tale
about the success, partial success, and no sue
cess, in the production of the fruit on account
of the cause named. That is the singular and
unexplained nature of the sting of this insect
In some sections of the country the effect of
its operations is very slight, though the fruit
is punctured to the same extent as elsewhere {;
while in others, the fruit will either fall off
when two-thirds grown, or will rot when near
ly full grown. Even upon almost adjoining
premises we have frequently known this to be
the case. There are trees in our neghbor-
hood which rarely ever fail in producing heavy
crops, without the least attention been paid to
the curculio; while with us and hundreds OF
others, all the remedies" that may be put in
IGqulSItlOu chlllUlI NOT tUe SllgnIeSI eIIeCt.
And so it is with certain regions of country.
In some the plum is as certain a crop as any
other fruit, without regard to the curculio in
others the crop lis a utter failure, do what they
may. In the latter the culture of this fruit
should be abandoned There must be some.
thing i'll the soil exercising controlling in
Hence. Our own trees, though they are of
some of the finest varieties, shall be extirpated
root and branch. We have no longer any
taste for the Quixotte war.
A New GRAPE WAR-Judgng from the
martial preludes in the horticultural Journals
murmurng around US, it looks very much as
if grape war were brewing. The glove has
been thrown down and taken up--the lauces
are being sharpened (nibbed) and the din of
war rises in the distance. In this day of civ.
ilization and religious influence, all good citi.
zens must deprecate any conflict likely to
prove sanguinary. For, be the result what it
may, it cannot but prove damaging to the
cause of plain truth and useful progress As
friend, therefore, of practical good, in which
the many may participate, and an enemy to
theoretical distractions and professional myst-
fcatons, we hope this war may be averted
and with a view that blessed peace may be
preserved in the land, we are willing to act as
referee, on condition that our decision shall be
final: Gentlemen, put up your pixies ICON.
monty called pens), and let's negotiate.
DwARFING APPLEs.-Mr H. A. Bizzel of
North Carolina, in communication to the
Horticulturist refers to practice of dwarfing
the apple by grating it upon a small shrub
called in that region the "chokeberry," which
bears a miniature apple and belong to that
genus. He thinks the pear will also succeed
upon it. 1t answers well in wet or moist stu.
ations. The tree is very much dwarfed, some
in full bearing being not over q feet in hight.