Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-06-23
Destroying the Plum SVeeyiI,


Its insect or perfect state, DR.. Harris says
Let the trees be briskv shaken or sudd, n
| ly Jared every IN nornng and evening during
the time the insects appear in the beetle
form. When thus disturbed they NAV be
caught in n sheet spread under the tree.
from which they should I've gathered in u
large, wide muuthed hottie, or other tight
vessel. and he thrown into the fire." Tie
reason tor such precautinn will he seen in
the fact that the insects ftign death and are
thus liable to escape. A practical writer
says: THE whole contents of the sheet
must be burned, as the curculio, when teiyn
ing death, resembles nothing so much as a
dried and dead bug, and if care is not
taken, will he thrown away as such. This
has frequently been the case in our own ey.
perience."
Mr.. Cummings. in the New York Obser.
yer, gives the following mixture with which
tn syringe trees during the time in which
the insect is engaged in depositing its eggs {:
Mix four gallons OF lime water. four gal
Ions tobacco water, one pound whale oil
soap aud four ounces sulphur" This. with
other similar applications, should he thrown
op the young fruit after sunset, we think
every three or four days. and of course after
rains, as they would lie liable to be washed
of.
1t will he recollrcted that We spoke in
our last article of the use of sawdust. satu
rated with tar, as n r, medy against this and
other insects. The Ohio Farmer SAYS that
''accidentalIy hottie of coal oil was bro
ken, and thus the sawdust in which it, with
Others. WAS packed, became thoroughly
saturated with the liquid. This sawdust
being put ut the foot of plum tree about
the time of blossoming. the fruit WAS saved.
This circumstance led To further expert
ments. with like favorable results 1t Is
also said that the fumes of coal tar will
keep the insects from the trees. This may
be tried without danger of inurirg the
trees by suspeuding to the branches bunches
OF elnth or any other convenient substance
which have been previously saturated with
the liquiG. This comes recommended from
such high authority that We think it well
worthy of trial.
THE cURcULIoNIDK.
This is the name OF the family of insects
TO which the plum weevil belongs. More
than two hundred and twenty species Of this
insect are described hy naiuraiists as being
indigenous to the United States, all ot them
being more or less injurious to vegetation.
IL is said that there is not probably nut or
seed at any kind that is not liable to attack
from some of the species. Ia addition to
this, several OF the species in the arva state
feed upon apples, pears, peaches, plums,
cherries, &c, and some upon leaves and leai
stems OF the various kinds of vegetables,
and some upon the mature wood of trees.
Although differing considerably in size and
color, they resemble each other so much in
form that the most unpracticed observer
could hardly fail in recognizing them They
all 60 under the name OF "snout beetle.n
The insect is about one-fourth of III inch
in length, rough in appearance, coiored in
spots Of brown and dirty white. About the
middle of the wings covers are two elevated
tubercles, behind which may lie seen two
larger spots of white. The larva is white
or reddish white worn usually found in the
various kinds of fruit in the monthe OF May
and June. After the fruit falls from the
tree this worm beiakes himself to the ground
where he undergors his final transformations
and in due time again comes forth to pur'
sue his littls round of existence. Tae
thoughtful mind, as it contemplates The
IN mysterious changes through which this Ill
tie life revolves, can hardly fail to wonder
at the care bestowed upon creature which
to Us seems so insignificant. 1t exists Is All
EGG, worm, chrysslis and perfect insect
endowed with wings, and all for the pur,
pose, ~ far AS We can see. that II may con-
Time to exist. The destruction Of our fruit
stsms but an incident 10 this end, ms it is
scarcely esten-only occupied for time %
. "half way house OF life"