Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-13
BEse EgfrCIesin.

pItlue ICu!I UI tie nlted States.
sEsc CurCusiO.
Editor Sfdr:-I wish might know how many
peach growers in tie great peach growing re-
gion envlrontng the Capitol who never think
curculo from the beginning OF the year to the
end thereof. feel quite sure That the nu timber
Is considerable. People who are wholly indlf-
1erent TO tie ruin annTatjy wrought in the
peach crop by II, cannot think curculio very
often, If at all, that is quite sure IL | could,
however, write down accurately the number OF
bushels of peaches that the insect has utterly
spoiled and rendered unmarketable in the last
fifteen years, hereabouts, it would astOnish and
awaken even the Indifferent. quarter OF a
crop lost sometimes, a half crop at Others three
quarters Of crop at still another and all at yet
another, would give the total Of many thou
sands OF bushels
Some years ago in the columns of THE STAR
! considered the subject Of the ravageS of the
curculO. then spoke OF the increasing dam
age done to the peach crop, and urged upon the
attention OF the peach growers the necessity or
united effort to check the destructive work of
this insect, and with only ordinary perception
and sagacty | stated that the time was at hand
when the entire peach crop would be destroyed
Dy IL; that Ii would surely be done at any time
When tnere was but mean peach set on the
trees. Some nurSerymen and many gro yerS as
serted TO me in conversation on the subject
then, that there was no annual increase OF the
insect, ana that natural causes would keep il In
check. 1t was easy to see that both classes OF
THESE men spoke without observation, reilec-
tlon-at random. IT should be deemed a matter
OF great interest now to the growers to know
what the fact Is. Some Of the nurSerymen con-
fesS that they were greatly mistaken. On the
morning OF March 25th, last, my ther no!neter
III the sun al half hour high, denoted % de reeS
ten degrees below freezing. Two thirds OF the
very abundant bud or blossom promiS Il crop
were killed. II the remaining one-third mad
peen allowed 10 grow, there would have been an
appreciate yield in this region, OF large beau
thu peaches, but the curculio-to use Il cant
phrase cleaned then. out. Some grove ) had a
nnf anhn hat
sect did not lind This fact tells the story so
plainly, so emphatically, that the peacl grow
ers TO see 1T, should show signs of coming goGd
sense, and reflection. as to what should be done
i have seen statement of a large peach
grower that caught 1900 curculios in his Or
chaTd in one season. This is sufficient TO show
every peach growing region. in the aggregate
The growers In that little belt of peach-grow-
Ing country on the southeastern shore of Lake
Michigan care for the growing crop just as our
growers here should care for their growing
crop, catch and kill the insect despoilerS of the
fruit, and relieve the trees at the proper time
Ing off so much of it as Will enable each tree to
produce all fair, fine, perfect peaches. This
process not only insures high priced fruit but
1t saves the trees from breaking down.
NOW, what our growers should do Is to pre-
pare themselves with white sheets sufficiently
large TO cover the ground under Tree. attached
10 poles On two sides for convenience OF hand
ing, Win Silt from one side OF the Sheet into
the center, SO as TO admit the body OF the tree
spread this sheet In turn und or each tree. each
morning, during the activity OF the insect; jar
tne Tree and pick up the pests and destroy
them. They ought also to pick off the surplus
Iru1t. Whatever Is worth doing at all is worth
doing properly and well.
our Washington peach caterers have had
enough OF that class or quality of fruit with
worm near the pit, with the hesh of the fruit
peloultu anu more or less rot en-. it0S.
Amuselnents. &c.
NATIoNAI. THEATER.-"A New Play was per-
formed at the National last evening by Mr. Law
renee Barrett, assisted by Mr. Ford's company.
The play was very well received. 1t has plot
Of unusual merit. and sustains the interest until
lEe close; IL was put on the stage in very good
ing. in his great character of RchelIeu.',
Owing to the favor with which "A New Play
was received, and In response to numerous re-
quests it will be repeated on Saturday eveninr.
dlsplacing Richard III, as announced.
FoKDs OPERA HOUSE," Our Boarding House"
mas been so successful that 1t viii be kept on
the boards at this theater until further notice
Inc opera house shakes every light with hearty
roarS or laughter. The Grover combination
winch Is performing the play, is an unusually
strong one. Go to tie opera no lse for an even
The ITALIAN OPERA.-The sal3 Of tickets for
the Grand Italian Opera in Baltimore next
week, began to-day at Metzero Us Residents
OF Washington can go over to Baltimore with
but little Inconvenience See ad It.
LINCOLN HALL.-The Peabody Orchestra of
baltimore. noted musical or ;anization, will
SNo ndVinte anu CONCERT at tn nall, M0nd ~,
Feb. 25th.
THEATER COMIoUE.-Sid. C. France and the
other attractions at the COmIQue are giving the
patrons OF tile theater good bill this week
HE CHARITY BALL comes off at Masonic Tam
pie next Monday evening.
IHE CARROLL INSTITUTE will give muscal
ana literary entertainment at Odd Fellows hall
on MONDAY evening next, the 18th inst. Fine
lCcal talent Will appear, together with General
James Shields in an address. See adv't
FRED. DOUGLASS SPEARS AGAINST CoIoRED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Fred Douglass deliy
cred his lecture on " Self-made Men, at Asburv
church, last night, TO a full audience, and toni
occasion to speak against the emigration bill of
men who advocated emigration saying: saThera
is no use OF talking about emigrating beyond
the reach or the white man, for he has taken
possession OF every quarter OF the globe and Will
oe found wherever the sun Shines" He was
heartily applauded.
SUIT FOR DIvoRcE.-Messrs Darlington and
harrington have for Edward Holland filed a
OH IOr his divorce from Amanda Holland, He
SetS Iortn marriage In January, 1870 and
charges That she left him In 1874 and lived two
years In adultery with one Lewis and then left
nlin 10 become the mistress of one Simms and
ne further charges that she was indicted with
SimmS for infanticide
BLACK CAsHNEREs, new stock lust received,
all-woOl French dye, so, S. co. g. IS, 20, Is, So
SIC; tamiSe cloth, 60, g. IS, SIC: black thibet
shawls single and double; English crepeS and
crepe wells; black alpacaS double width, 121Sc,
up. TowSons, dry goods and carpets SIS Penn
sylvania avenue, south side.
MARRIED-R Josephine Mari and Milton c.
Dent were married at o'clock yesterday even