Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-18
TEE FARM.
MATTERS or AGRICULTURE AND
HnRTTC LTURE.
The Plum cuIio-IGstimated Yield
of Standing Grain-Cocoaine
Growing in California, etc.

=
has not yet made its appearance on the
Pacific Coast. SO Gag as known, but that it
will find its way here at no distant day,
and become an additional scourge 10 or
chardists, there cannot be the slightest
doubt, nor can there be any reason 10 hope
for The contrary. The curculio has worked
the almost total destruction Of the plum
crop at the East for the past fifteen Of
twenty years as before referred TO by thc
REcoRD- MON, and so effectually did it
ruin this branch Of the horticultural in
dustry that many plum orchards were dug
up and other kinds of fruit trees planted.
About twelve years ago Brown Bros. Of
Norwalk, Ohio, who were extensive fruit
growers. set out u large orchard Of plum
and which at the time, in the face Of the
rayages of the curculio, was considered by
nthers as a hazardous Investment. When
the trees came 10 bearing age, however the
tronrieGors invented q method Of trapping
the pest. which proved so successful that
Their plum crop of two seasons had been
matured in safety, and sold at high fig
ures prior 10 the writer's removing from
that State some years since.
The uaD consisted of an extern
sive screen resembling an inverted
umbrella, which Was run by hand,
from tree TO tree, upon wheels, like i
hand-barrow By the movement Of Il
lever the screen was closed around the
tree and extending beneath and beyond the
boughs on all sides, and olanting downward
10 the center where was small opening
through tie screen into a box. With the
screen thus prepared, the operator carefully
placed a hook Fastened in the end OF a long
handel around the body of the tree, well
up into the branches, and gave the top Z
a sudden shake. This caused the curculiO
70 lose their hold, and dropping into the
screen, roll down into the box. \ back
movement Of the lever released the screen
from the tree. when it was wheeled to the
next and The process repeated through the
entire orchard. After q large number of
Che pests had been obtained in the box
Ehey were taken out and destroyed.
The curculio is very small beetle, and
Che damage committed by it is from sting
ing the fruit, when small, to deposit its
eggs. The time in which the beetle IS thus
engaged covers a period of three to five
weeks, commencing generally two or three
weeks after the blossom has fallen. II
they can be prevented from dep0siting
their eggs IN the fruit during this period,
the crop is saved. The above plan is for
that ourpose. The curculio is somewhat
dormant and are easily shaken from the
foliage during the cool or early part of the
tlay, ana the trees were shaken as dc
scribed, each morning during the period in
which they were engaged III dePosltlng
their eggs. Of course this IS an expensive
warfare. Is it requires many men, each
having the wheeledapparatuS in order 10 90
over an orchard of any considerable size,
during the morning hours, and this has 10
be continued every morning during the
period named. The result, however was
satisfactory TO the firm of fruit-groweTs re
ferred to- Is the ruin of the plum crop from
this pest was so complete in all other
orchards that Brown Brothers sold their
plums al from six to eight dollars Fer
hushei Wher their success vas first obtained.
The freedom from this pest, thus far in
California, has permitted orchardistS 10 re-
gard the plum rs perhaps the most free OF
any class ~ fruit from insect enemies, and
considering the great promise that IS at
fOrdcd by tie pIuHe for supplying that
fruit in place OF the imported product, il
would be most fortunate if it were possible
to prevent ;Lc Introduction Of th3urcuiio
to our coast The Massachusetts, THoulRau
III a recent article upon this pest said:
10 make the plum orchard u success requires
constant chfuincss on the part Of the orchard
ist not only must the soil be kept in good con-
clti0n but measures must be taken 10 protect
the fruit from destruction by the curCuiIo. This
Insect is q very diilcau one to destroy OF con
troll various devices have been TesouCd to TO
protect the young fuif, but they are, most of
them, so la0o-iOus, and require so much watch
fulness, that only the most persistent growers
are successful IN saving their fruit
!. Il