North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-13
farmfr's Ell II TT IT.


Society, the joct of the attacks and remedy for
the ravages of the curculio on the plum was taken
up aud discussed.
Mr. Mudd tcok the position that any other remedy
than the total destruction Of the insects themselves
or prevention of their reproductions must be par
tial and of questionable policy; because We might
succeed in driving away the insect from our p'ums
snly to have our other fruits, apples and peaches
especially attacked AMI destroyed. That, in fact,
the dc truction of apples AMI peaches by this insect
10 alArmngly the increase, and that unless these
depredatous were checked they would ere long, be
As fatal to them as they now are 10 the plum As
Ineane for destroying these insects AMI preventing
fheir reproduction, be recommended the destruction
ss every kind of wormy fruit as fast as It Tell from
ths trees either by gathering il up or turning IN the
hoga hsving the earth firm and hard under the
trees % 10 10 prevent arv when leaving the fruit,
irom penetrating the ground, or, if in the ground,
from emerging thence
Ef Colman, though mainly agreeing With MI
Madd, believed that plum orchard could ne pro-
tsted BY high pang fence, say ten or twelve feet
hikA, 10 the insect flies high, and to preTen
the increase Of those which might accidentally get
IN, either TO jar them down and destroy them, Or
turu hogs IN to gather the fallen fruit He took IS
sue with Mr. Mndd as to the local origin Of the in
ssc. and believed it migratory in its habits. AS
10 the value of the various specifics which had from
time to time been proposed to prevent depredatious,
~otIa., 81 rooAs On Jap
their partial efficacy However little might know
Of ito disposition and habits thore could be no doubt
sAAt il possessed keen sense OF smell, AMI hen ce
aaythng offensive to this sense more or less e.
fsstivs in preventing its depredations,
Mr. Mason stated that the ofensiveness Of the
smell Of the gas lime from the gas works, s,rewed on
the ground under the trees, would prevent it from
sammitting depredations.
Mr. Co.zers stated that two years ago he had tried
ths wash of whale oil soap, tobacco, and me which
no saw recommended, and he had fair crop. Last
ysar he did not apply anything and he had no fruit
Mr.. Tics stated that he tried the same wash with
similar results and the year before be had expert
Hented wirh crude oil, saturating pieces of oil-coth
with t. and hanging it in the tree or laying it in the
S1~N~S~~~ -
protecting the fruit His opinion that whatever
had IN offensive dor was less effective in
driving away the insect and consequently prevented
its depreiations.
Mr. Quinette handed from the library volume of
transactions Of the American Institute and request
cd the secretary to read certain portions Of discus
sion before the said institute relating to the rcuio
and how to prevent its ravages from which appear
cd that such partial remedies those mentioned
above, had also been tried, together with jarrirg
dawn tAs insects and destroying them and all with,
more or less success Also that the black knot sc
destructive to the plum and Morello cherry tree in
me Eastern States produced by the curculo de
Hositing ito eggs in the young wood.
Hr. Tice stated that he had examined knots on
tAs canes of the blackberry similar in all RESPECTS
10 the black knot the plum AMI cherry trees in the
East, and found them filed with arva, from whose
ass and shape he had inferred them to be those OF
sAs cureuio, and lad them cut out and burnt and
shis before he was aware that the black knot in the
plum was attributed to this cause.
Mr. Mudd gave it a, his opinion that the black
knst % destructive to the pin oak (Quercus paluss
tis) Of our forests, was owing to the same cause.
I'm tho genera, discussion rs to the habits of the
insect was admitted that in its migration it ies
though the general opinion that it only migrated
IN search cf food and of substance adapted for propa
eating its species that, when both found In the
ecAlity where it is produced, it migrated but little
HAny that it is clumsy flyer, and therefore but
seldom IL ever lights the tree. but en- TIE ground,
sad ascends the trunk hence cotton tied around the
trunk has prevented their ascent and hence also the
efficacy of substances of offensive oior applied the
ground TO the trunk to the tree. in preventing its
dspredatiOns