American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-09
AGRICULTURAL.
Fruit Blight and Insects.

pher alike have experimental and dis
cussed the phenomena at length with
out arriving at any definite cause that
could be avoided through vigilance or
The Professor of science at
tempts to solve the problem, and views
the blighted branch with 4 microscope,
and either gives Il up in despair or adds
another item to the already countless
groundless theories afloat On the SUBJ
ject. That the blight don't originate in
the ground is indisputable, since it is
the luxuriant growing top branches that
are attacked. The disease in all likeli-
hood would not pass through the inter-
nal system of the tree and burn the ter
minal branches without having a corre-
spending effect on the lower portion,
especially the younger rootlets.
The theory has been numerously ad-
vanced that flashes of lightning cause
tree blight. This is Improbable, Light
ming docs not touch thus lightly. A
more rational conclusion to arrive at is
that the tree is blasted while copiously
rerspiring. The emanating acids and
vapors collapse while coming through
the pores with atmospheric gases.
These collisions are not frequent, and
only happen when the usual equilibrium
of aerial currents are agitatsd by coun-
teracting influences. We may also attrib-
ute the cracking of the trunk, arms and
branches to similar causes. The only
remedy for such blasted twigs and
branches is to cut them off at their
junction with a healthy branch. Our
observations in the fields of nature
teach that vegetation is heir to symp-
toms paralytic and consumptive. The
paralytic strokes are received from the
atmosphere, and burn en- occasional
twig or branch. The consumptive ele-
ment originates at the root. The former
can be cured by amputation, the latter
never-hardly ever.
THE cURCULIo.
This is a hump-backed, ill-shaped,
grayish brown weevil, who appropriates
to his own use the entire crop of plurhs,
apricets and nectarines If left unmolest-
ed. He will yield his hold readily and
fall to the ground when the tree is jar
red or shaken. He will assume SOL
emn, death-like attitude when he falls,
only to take refuge under the nearest
covering in few minutes.
: Various methods are advanced for his
destruction. All agree to having the
surface smooth, hard and clear of grass
and weeds, so as to deprive him of a
hiding place when he reaches the ground.
Mr.. Bonham's idea of laying a few
boards purposely at the base of the tree
to trap the weevil when he hides under
it, is good suggestion.
The surface, however, should be hard
and smooth, without clod, grass or
crevice, and the pest stamped out of ex-
istence when shaken off.
Some have been very successful in ex-
terminating the curculio by planting
their plums, apricots and nectarines in
an inclosure adjoining the pig and chick
en- yard The animals are let roam in
the Enclosure during summer. The dis
eased fruit when it falls, impregnated
with larvs, is devoured, thus destroying
the young pest while in the stages of in
cubation. The ground, too, is rendered
compact by continual tramping. The
though mischievous to pune
ture and abstract the juices from the
fruit, has not the power to bore through
solid substances, and can not, therefore,
enter the bowels of the earth for winter
refuge. Since the pores and crevices of
he surface are closed, he will, in conse-
quence, freeze to death in winter. If
The trees in an Enclosure like this are
shaken twice a week, and the pigs and
chickens feed under the trees meantime,
he animals will crush him out of ex-
stence.
APPLE-wORM-CODL MOTH.
This is destructive pest, remarka-
Die for his powers of penetration
through the young apple. He winters
n cocoons in the crevices of the bark,
when he is often winter-killed. His in
Itinct leads him to shelter in the hollow
If the tree, if there is free access through
iecayed apertures. If the core is not
hollow or accessible, he will insert his
cocoon in the crevices of the bark. 1t
s wonderful that insects like these, SO
.avenous in summer, can suspend the
greed of their appetite in winter. We
ire satisfied, however, that ninety-five
per cent. of fruit and vegetable eating
Insects die during winter, or else their
.apid mode of multiplication would
warm the earth, since a single mated
pair could be the progenitors ola thou
Iand in one season.
The apple-worm brings her progeny
n direct contact with the fruit, and de-
,osits the larve in the apple calyx. A
ew weeks will suffice to bring the young
moth into active duty. His first impulse
s to burrow into the fruit at the apex,
penetrate the flesh and imbibe the juice.
Their rapacious instinct is rivaled only
" their rapid mode of transformation
Is they pass into the second and some
lines third generation in the summer
eason. The means of destruction are
imple: Scrape the scaling bark, to-
yether with cocoons, from the trunk of
he tree in winter or spring, and burn
hem. This will also help to destroy the
ooolly and scaly aphis, and fruit slug,
hat take refuge in the coarse bark.
Another important item that should be
'racticed with unvarying regularity, is
hat the fruit should not be allowed to
lecay on the ground. Rake them off
hey contain insect germs by the thou