Nebraska advertiser., 1881-08-11
Destroying the Curcul!o.

Those who have only few fruit
trees, and are earnestly desirouS to see
the fruit grow to perfection. can by reg
ular and persevering warfare on the
curculo accomplish the object. In the
financial sense it may not always pay,
but that with many is not the point AZ
issue.
The curculio, which destroys apricots.
nectarines. plums. peaches and cherries,
aud frequently Injuries pears and APP
pies, is winged insect with a long pro-
boscis and u small body. When taken
in the hand from the earth or 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 worm," living
on the fruit until it attains Il certain
period of growth, when it leaves it,
goes, probably, into the earth until the
next spring, and then appears as the
full-lledged 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
light until the dew is gone. At least
this is the best time to catch it, because
then there is usually little or no wind
and it is moderately cool. The tools
wanted are a white muslin sheet and u
rubber mallet The sheet should be
large enough to cover the ground under
the trees to be operated upon, with %
slit in the middle for half its
length, SO that it can pass around
the trunk. The sheet is to be
kept open by light sticks or laths
nailed at the ends, and two persons at
least are needed to operate it, and three
are better. Lay the sheet on the
ground, and with the mallet strike the
tree on the trunk if not large, or else on
some of the limbs. The blow should be
sharp rather than heavy. On feeling
the Jar the curculio draws up his (or
herr legs and drops. On reaching the
sheet it lies motionless for minute or
two, rs if feigning death. Hunt it out,
pick it up, and destroy it. Go from
tree to tree in this way, once each fair
day at least, and as much oftener as you
can. Every specimen of fruit will not
be saved, but a fair share of the crop.
Much will depend on the time the work
is begun and the persistency with
which it is kept up. 1t should com
mence the moment the fruit "sets, "
and be kept up through five or six
weeks, or until it is nearly ripe. 1t can
be done rapidly after little practice,
or at the rate of about one tree per min
ute in cultivated orchard.
EllNuonnnr a, nnrr,, tha nn+oI ,,,,,.
sery firm of Rochester, and John j.
Thomas, of the Country Gentleman,
(who resides at Union Springs, N. Y, }
have practiced this system for thirty or
forty years, mainly with plums, and
with paying results, as they claim. If
they can pay for hired labor to do such
work, it ought also to pay those ANA.
teurs or others who have only n few
trees, and who are anxious to achieve
the best results with them.
Only one grown person, and one or
two children to assist, are needed to do
the work. A very little practice will
enable the operators to single out the
curculio from the bits of rubbish which
the mallet may bring down from the
tree. The number per tree on hot
morning will vary greatly, sometimes
none, sometimes two dozen, though this
number is rare. Shaking the tree will
not answer; it must be blow. Mr..
Thomas recommends that spike be
driven into the tree and nail-hammer
struck upon it; others saw off a spare
limb and strike on the stump. A rub
Der mallet the writer has found to be
preferable to either. The early morn
ing is the best time to operate, because
then the air is generally still, and the
work is impracticable when the wind
blows strong; nor can it be done in
rainy weather. When the season is
over the sheet can be rolled up and laid
away, and be used again through sew
eTal seasons. "A. Y Observer.