The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-07-28
BEST rOying the CurculiO,

.e"oo0 WIN udVc Ouly IoW 1FulC
trees. and are earnestly DESTROYS to see
the fruit grow to perfection. can by reg
ular and persevering warfare on the
curculio accomplish the object. In the
financial sense it may not always pay,
but that with many is not the point at
issue.
The curculio, which destroys apricots
nectarines, plums, peaches and cherries,
and frequently Injuries pears and APP
Piles, is winged insect with long pro-
boscis and small body. When taken
in the hand from the earth or a sheet.
it much resembles dried bud, both in
color and shape. The incision it makes
in fruit is not malicious. but simply the
carrying out of its maternal instincts.
In the crescent-shaped cut it makes it
deposits an egg, or nit. This soon
matches and becomes a " worm," living
on the fruit until it attains a certain
period of growth, when it leaves it,
goes, probably. into the earth until the
next spring. and then appears as the
full-tledged winged insect, to sting
more fruit, and die in its turn.
The common period of work for this
Insect is the early morning, from day
ght until the dew is gone. At least
lis is the best time to catch it, because
ten there is usually little or no wind
al it is moderately cool. The tools
Waited are white muslin sheet and a
ruber mallet. The sheet should tie
lare enough to cover the ground under
there's to be operated upon, with a
slit in the middle for half its
| hat
the trunk. The sheet is to oe
keptopen by light sticks or laths
naile at the ends, and two persons at
least re needed to operate it, and three
are litter. Lay the sheet on the
groun, and with the mallet strike the
tree othe trunk if not large, or else on
some the limbs. The blow should be
sharp .ther than heavy. On feeling
the jar le curculi0 draws up his Tor
herr legand drops. On reaching the
sheet it Is motionless for minute or
two. as ifeigning death. Hunt it out,
pick it NJ and destroy it. Go from
tree to tre'in this way, once each fair
day at leas' and as much oftener as you
can. Everlspecimen of fruit will not
be saved, bt fair share of the crop.
Much will deend on the time the work
is begun an the persistency with
which it is Apt up. 1t should COM
mence the mtnent the fruit sets, !"
and be kept y through five or six
weeks, or until lis nearly ripe. 1t can
be done rapidly ater a little practice,
or at the rate of aout one tree per min
ute in cultivatedorchard.
Ellwanger & Barry, the noted nur.
sery firm of Rochester. and John J..
Thomas, of the Co,ntry Gentleman,
(who resides at Union Springs, N. r.
have practiced this sysem for thirty OF
forty years. mainly With plums, and
with paying results, as hey claim. II
they can pay for hired lbor to do such
work, it ought also to pg those anna.
teurs or others who hav, only few
trees, and who are anxiou to achieve
the best results with them,
Only one grown person, and one OF
two children to assist, are NEEDED to dc
the work. A very little pr,ctice will
enable the operators to SINCE out the
curculio from the bits of rubbih which
the mallet may bring down rom tn,
tree. The number per tree On no
morning will vary greatly, sometimes
none, sometimes two dozen, thouh thi
number is rare. Shaking the trse viii
not answer; it must be y blow. Mr.
Thomas recommends that spike b.
driven into the tree and a nail hanme
struck upon it; others saw off q spar
limb and strike on the stump. A rub
Der mallet the writer has found to b
preferable to either. The early morn
ing is the best time to operate, becaus
then the air is generally still, and tn
work is impracticable when the win
blows strong; nor can it be done i
rainy weather. When the season
over the sheet can be rolled up and lai
away, and be used again through Sc,
eral seasons. IN. Y. Observer.