The National tribune., 1882-03-18

OF Other departments ot the paper.
CURCULIO, OR PLUM WEEvfL.-Twenty
gears ago it was generally understood that
. this insect confined its dcpredations to
smOoh-skinned fruits, as the plum and
nectarine, but of late years it seems to At
tack all kinds of fruits in orchards, particu.
larry peaches and cherries; pears and apples
are also frequently marked with the peculiar
creecent-shaped Puncture of the insect, but
they are not injured as are the stone fruits, as
the punctprc usually heals over and leaves
only = slight scar, but in the peach the
depredations Of the insect are so great that
full-sized sound peaches are exceptional in
the market, and half-mstured diseased fruit
abundant
Curculio remedies are numerous; one of
the Oldest methods of destroying them is
that Of shaking, or rather knocking the tree,
and thus dislodging the insects, which are
collected in sheets spread On the ground for
this purpose. A heavy mallet Is used to
strike the tree, and in order not to bruise
the bark low branch is sometimes cut of
near the stem, leaving stump to strike on.
Some prefer to drive large-headed nail into
the stem and strike upon it, which does not
injure the tree. With a small plantation of
plums the iarriDg process can be nade quite
effectual in saving crop of fruit.
A method, which was first adopted in
peach orchards in Michigan, consists in trap
ping the weevil by placing pieces of bark,
cnip, or board, or rag, or corncob, or any thing
for covert, close TO the stem of the tree,
under which the insect will conceal itself,
either adheIine 10 the covert or on the ground
under it. By inspecting these coverts daily
aud destroying all the insects which have
there sought concealment their numbers can
be materially le.sened.
Suspendins pieces of freshly tarred paper
on the trees has been found to repel the
curcnlio; burning tarred paper or rags so
that smoke will pass through the trees is
equally eficacious.
One pouns Of quassia chips secured in a
coarse bag and placed to steep for as hours
in Is gallons of water will made very
bitter solution, which if sprinkled over the
trees by syringe viii protect them from
the weevil Alternate trees in a row have
produced crops Of perfect fruit by semi
weekly applications CT thi. solution, COM
inenciDe as soon az the fruit first shows
formation and continuing until the frnit is
nearly full grown. II continued after the
fruit COMMENCES TO ripen a bitter taste will
be impaired to it. We have found two ap-
plicstions sufficient in dry weather If con-
tirued rains should cccur Immediately after
the application the bitter taste will be
washed from the fruit; when this happens
the application should at once be repeated.
Where chickens are kept they might be
utilized in the production Of plums. A
plum orchard incloscd by suitable fence
and chickens and swine allowed to run
smonz the tree. will, without further pre-
caution, insure plenty Of fruit The wormy
frnit, should there be any, will be devoured
by the swine, and any of the worms which
may escape will have but little chance of
escaping the keen-eyed vigilance Of the
poultry.
1t has been observed that the branches of
treos which overhang water escape from the
punctures Of curculio. Trees may there
fore be planted on the banks Of small lakes
OF ponds with certainty Of success We
have seen fine crops of plums on trees so
planted that most Of their tops would over
hang the water; the punctured fruit drop
ping into the water secures the death of the
young grub, and thus keeps the enemy in
check.
These are among the most nractical
methods of fighting the curculio.n
STEAM VERSUS HORSE PowrR x--;,..
in the Massachusetts, Ploughmon remarks a.
follows on steam power on farms: "A two.
horse power steam-engine, with boiler that
scarcely any amount of carelessness even ran
make dangerous, can be bought for abon,
the ssme price of the same amount of nou,..
run by horses, and the latter i. ten tin..
moro cumbersome, unwieldly, and liable to
get ont of repair-it has SO many truck.
pulleys, and Joints TO oil up and to look
Afsr. Besides this, il is tremendous strain
npon a horse TO run a one-horse power or
Epon span to run a two-horse DOVER
Then yOu can start up a steamer and get |
ID running with half the fuss it takes to nm.
timber the horse power, harness the horses.
Sc, and you can use the latter only for |
power, and when you have cut your ensilage,
'swed your wood and few other such |
chores, it has done all it can do; but not so
with steam. You can shut off the steam |
rom the boiler to the engine by turning a |
uop-cock and turn the steam to cooking
aa'"toes and other stutf for the hogs, or
neam the cut hay and straw and the dry
'orn sto'er for the cattle, heat water, and if
20" sec at to go step further, heat your
t"elhng house with the steam. Then a