Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-02
THE ctReUIIo,

Every fruit grower in this region Is better ec-
uuainted with the mischief done by this trouble
some insect than he likes to be. For many
years it has required a great amount of almost
daily attention during the season to save few
handfulls of plunis from trees which, if unmed-
died with by the curcNlio, would produce busl-
els. Many of our fellow citizens have almost
abandoned the hope of getting crops of that
delicious fruit land no finer plums are found in
the world than formerly were raised here in
abundance), till the curcIliu shall have run its
race. Its ravages are not confined to the plums,
though that fruit seem: to be its special favor
lite. All smooth and delicate skinned fruits
are liable to be attacked by 1t; and its season
of mischief is from the earliest formation of
the fruit-just after it has set-till it is almost
full grown. With little care any one may
see for himself how the little deprcdator does
his work. Whenever one can find on any of his
plums, small crescent shape cuts going little
way through the skin, he may look out for the
curculio but to find him no great stir must be
made, for he is shy bird, and on the least
fright will gather his legs under him, and fall
to the ground, or if it is bright warm dry day
will sometimes take wing and be off. The
readiness with which the insect falls to the
ground has led to one way Of destroying it
viz: by spreading sheet on the ground under
the tree. and then give the tree sudden jar
by mallet or the like Many will fall and can
be killed. But to amount to much this process
must be gone through with many times day for
a long time, otherwise enough of them will visit
the tree to sting every plum on it.
The curculio is a small compactly built in
sect of gray color, and has crooked pick
axe looking beak which it digs through the
skin of the plum, moving its head from side to
side with little motion of its body. This makes
the cut of its peculiar shape. When satisfied
with the extent and depth of the cut, the insect
turns itself about and inserts its stern into the
cut, drops an egg, and goes Otto another plum
to repeat the same process. Sometimes two or
three cuts are seen on one plum. Soon the
egg matches, the grub eats its way into the plum
TO the stone, and the death of the fruit is the
consequence.
After the plum has dropped to the ground.
in due time the grub betakes itself to the earth,
as is supposed, and comes out at the proper
season, perfect insect, as ready to do mischief
as its forefathers we're.
We find in the New York Observer recipe
for preparation, said by the editors and sew
eral correspondents to be very effectual in the
way Of preventing the ravages of this insect.
Fruit culturists may find it we'll worth a trial.
We have found the principal article on sale at
our agricultural stores in former years. If eff
fective at all, the application must evidently be
made before the insect has stung the fruit. II
would certainly be Of no use afterwards:
"MIxTURE. To one pound of whale oil SOAP add
four Of -four of sulphur. Mix thoroughly and
dissolve in twelve gallons Of water.
To one halfpcck Of quick lime add four gallons Of
water, and stir well together. When fully settled,
pour off the transparent lime water and add to the
soap and sulphur mixture.
Add the same, also, say four gallons of toleraby
strong tobacco water.
Apply this mixture, when thus Incorporated, with
garden syringe to your plum other fruit trees,
that the foliage shall be well drenched II rains
succeed for three weeks, application will be sufii-
eient. Should frequent rains occur, the mixture
should be again applied until the stone of the fruit
becomes hardened, when the season of the Curcuo's
ravages is past" Press