East Saginaw courier., 1866-06-06
THE CURcULIo.

Aho a'to"'H6 "f'"sS, "iittth bll
lady of the city of Monroe, some yed
since, to the Farmers Club of Mon9
County, Mich, is the most intelligf
and practical of anything we hlo
seen in priut in regard to this mt
troublesome insect:
The Plum Wevel, or Curculio I-'
longs to the family Colepetra, with
includes the whole of the beetle trh.
In its winged or perfect state, t.
from three-tweliths to one-fourth pf
an inch in length, including its ouryd
snout, which is fully as long as he
,thorax or chest, and is always, wbn
in a state Of rest, drawn underlts
breast between its fore legs. Itscbr
is mingling Of duh yellow, vile,
black and brown, producing to be
common observer, a small, dirt-colbd
insect. BY closely observing it yih
microscope, its wing covers show a.
eral small ridges, the two most prn-
ihent being situated ON the back, IA
black color. Behind these bunh,s
may be seen band of dull yeldw
and white, and on each side two lite
yellow teeth. When disturbed L
draws its legs and snout close to, tho
body and falls to the ground aypm-
emily ifoless, Ivsvnblies a bit " dirt
or dried bud from tho tree. lticuu-
ming, timid, and.sensitive to ofesiye
odors. DIR, Harris thinks thinksthe
insect remains in the ground thee
weeks after the fruit falls. Drs. iAr-
net & Harris are of the opinion tat
the late broods, from the apple nd
other fruits, remain in the ground in
the proper stage, until spring, wen
they come forth prepared to destoy
the early fruit. DIR. Tilton states tat
it remains in the ground in grub fem
until spring. M. FL. Simpson, Ea.,
of Saxonville, states that the larba
goes through their crysalis statein
three weeks, and remain torpid ukl
spring, unless the grouud is disturbd.
DIR. Il. Sanborn, OF Andoyer, givest
as his opinion that they do not remat
in the ground during tho winter, BIT
have other places of concealment.-
1t has been certainly aseertained, tina
the small grub, not apple worm, whicl
has feet, in the apple, cherry ant
plum all produce the same weevil. /
is seldom that more than one mare o
the insect can be found ON each plum
DIR. Harris states that the weevi
pierces the fruit with its snout, an,
then turns round and inserts but on,
egg to each incision. passing from
plum to plum until its eggs are OK
hausted. The egg soon matches, ans
forms a brown-headed maggot, with
out feet, which eats its way to tn,
centre of the fruit, causing it to fal
to the ground.
There are certainly three know
methods by which the fruit can b,
saved-the first on the list is smokin,
daily while the dew is on the tree
with tobacco. To do this elfectually
it will be necessary to have funne
shaped dish made of sheet iron, will
pierced cover, small aperature below
for draft, and a socket in which |
handle may be inserted. sufficient,
long to reach the top branches. Th
next method in common use Is jarrinl
the tree, and scaling the weeyil.--
This is much more troublesome thar
smoking. The third method is to Gu
from the plums the mark of the in
sect as soon M eaap. nsa--a-- sIral
lightly. The wound heals very soon
leaving a slight indentation of rust,
color, but in no manner injuring tn,
fruit. -sH
These three methods we have trie,
with success. 1t takes but shor
time to 90 over a tree and remove tn,
eggs from as much fruit as the branch
es will well sustain. Plums hav,
been saved by dusting lime, ashes
and lime and sulphur on the trees.
it is said that a heap of fermentin,
manure placed near, will prevent thei
working. Mathews remedy is sal,
to be simple, and but once apple,
during the season.. There are sev
eral experiments which might be triet
by members of the club, the coruin.
season, which may prove ei6caeious
Chalk is very offensive to some Of th,
insect tribe; perhaps the same may b,
the case with the curculio. Oils may
trouble them, especially those with
strong odor. Have any of the club
tried turpentine? The English gar.
deners use it to repel insects; perhaps
it may be useful mixed with oil. il
any of the club have not tried wash
with aloes, would it not be well to dc
SO T? If chalk is used it might be APP
piled with oil or rubbed on after the
tree was oiled. 1t would not was,
off with rain if oiled. There was .
notice some time since Of a person
who saved his plums by tyisg tanz,
in the trees. All insects dislike cam.
omile; perhaps if this was planted
under plum trees it would be useful
The trees might be washed in de.
coction of the herb and the fruit
saved. Would it not be well to plan,
camomile in orchards, around all fruit
trees9 Pennyroyal is also offensive
to insects, and may be found useful
in orchards. .4,l .o.
1t will not do to protect the plums
and neglect other fruits. q The curcu.
lilo must have foothold and we can
better spare plums than apples. The
wild plum it is said grows luxuriantly
by the side of salt licks. Has any
member of the Club washed their
trees in brine Some have saved
their fruit by sailing the soil; but il
the insect leaves the ground before
winter, washing the tree in hriue
would be better Black knot 10 sup.
posed to be formed by broods of an
sects which can find no fruit In which
40 ,y,arr.atuafa Al, aiy apao;oa lx~lolI.-