often the whole crop, fall from the j small raisin, or, perhaps more nearly,
trees when half or two-thirds grown. j a ripe hemp seed. From the first of
" If he examines these falling fruits, April until August, this insect may be
he will perceive on the surface of each, found, though we think its depreda-
not far from the stalk, a small semi- : tions on fruit, and indeed its appear-
circular scar. This star is the crescent- 1 ance in any quantity, is confined to the
shaped insignia of that little Turk, the month of May in this climate. In
Curculio; an insect so small, as per- j places where it is very abundant, it
haps, to have escaped his observation \ also attacks to some extent the cherry,
for years, unless particularly drawn to j the peach, and even the apple,
it, but which nevertheless appropriates ' " Early in July the punctured plums
to himself the whole product of a tree, ' begin to fall rapidly from the tree.



or an orchard of a thousand trees,

" The habits of this Curculio, or
Plum- Weevil, are not yet fully and en-
tirely ascertained. But careful ob-
servation has resulted in establishing
the following points in its history.

" The Plum-Weevil is a small, dark
brown beetle, with spots of white,
yellow, and black. Its length is
scarcely one-fifth of an inch. On its
back are two black humps, and it is



The egg deposited in each, at first in-
visible, has become a white grub or
larva, which slowly eats its way to-
wards the stone or pit. As soon as it
reaches this point, the fruit falls to the
ground. Here, if left undisturbed, the
grub soon finds its way into the soil.

" There, according to most culti-
vators of fruit, and to our own observa-
tions, the grubs or larva? remain till the
ensuina spring, when in their perfect



furnished with a pretty long, curved i form they again emerge as beetles and
throat and snout, which, when it is at i renew their ravages on the fruit. It is
rest, is bent between the forelegs. It | true that Harris, and some other natu-
is also [irovided with two wings with ' ralists, have proved that the insect does
which it flies through the air. How far j sometimes undergo its final translbrma-
this insect flies is yet a disputed point, ] tion and emerge from the ground in
some cultivators afiirming that it scarce- I twenty days, but we are inclined to the
ly goes farther than a single tree, and i opinion that this only takes place with
others believing that it flies over a a small portion of the brood, which,



CUR



177



CUR



perhaps, have penetrated bat a very season will assist in destroying the in-



short distance below the surface of the
soil. These making tlieir appearance
in midsummer, and finding no young
fruit, deposit their eggs in the young
branches of trees, etc. But it is unde-
niable that the season of the Plum-



sects.

2. Gathering the fruit and destroying
the larv(C. As the insect, in its larva;
cw grub form, is yet within the plums
when they fill prematurely from the
tree, it is a very obvious mode of ex-



Weevil is early spring, and that most terminating the next year's brood to

of the larva; which produce this annual gather these fallen fruits, daily, and

Bwarm, remain in the soil during the feed them to swine, boil, or otherwise

whole period intervening since the fall destroy them. In our own garden.



of the previous year's fruit.



where several years ago we suffered by



"There are several modes of de- ] the Plum-Weevil, we have found that
stroying this troublesome insect. Be- this practice, pursued for a couple of
fore detailing them, we will again seasons, has been pretty effectual,
allude to the fact, that we have never Others have reported less favourably of
known an instance of its being trouble- it; but this, we think, arose from their
some in a heavy soil. Almost always , trying it too short a time, in a soil and
the complaint comes from portions of neighbourhood where the insect is very
country where the soil is light and abundant, ai\d where it consequently
sandy. The explanation of this would had souglit extensively other kinds of
seem to be that the compact nature of fruit besides the plum.
a clayey soil is not favourable to the ! " A more simple and easy way of
passage or life of this insect, while the ' covering the dilhculty, where there is
warm and easily permeable surface of a plum orchard or enclosure, is that of
sandy land nurses every insect through
its tender larva; state. Plum trees
growing in hard trodden court-yards,
usually bear plentiful crops. Follow-
ing these hints some persons have de-
terred the Plum-Weevil by paving be-



turning in swine and fowls during the
whole season, when the stung plums
are dropping to the ground. The fruit,
and the insects contained in it, will
thus be devoured together. This is an
excellent expedient for the farmer, who
neath the trees; and we have lately bestows his time grudgingly on the cares



seen a most successful experiment
which consisted in spreading beneath
the tree as far as the branches ex- j
tended a mortar made of stiflf clay
about the thickness of two or three
inches — which completely prevented
the descent of the insect into the earth.
This is quickly and easily applied, and '
may therefore be renewed every season
until it is no longer found necessary.

" The other modes of destroying
the Plum-Weevil are the following : —

1 . " Shaking the tret and killing the



of the garden.

3. " The use of salt. A good deal of
attention has lately been drawn to the
use of common salt, as a remedy for
the Curculio. Trials have been made
with this sul)Stance in various parts of
the country, where scarcely a ripe
plum was formerly obtained, with tlie
most complete success. On the other
hand, some persons, after testing it,
have pronounced it of no value. Our
own experience is greatly in favour of
its use. We believe that, properly



beetles. Watch the young fruit, and you applied, it is an effectual remedy
will perceive when the insect makes its against the Curculio, while it also pro-
appearance, by its punctures upon them, motes the growth of the tree, anil keeps
Spread some sheets under the tree, and the soil in that state most congenial to
strike the trunk pretty sharply several its productiveness. The failures that
times with a wooden mallet. The in- '• have arisen in its use, have, doubtless,
sects will quickly fall, and should be grown out of an imperfect application,



killed immediately. This should be
repeated daily for a week, or so long
as the insects continue to make their
appearance. Repeated trials have



either in regard to the quantity or the
time of applying it.

" In the directions usually given, it
seems only considered necessary to



proved, beyond question, that this apply salt, pretty plentifully, at any
rather tedious mode is a very effectual
one, if persisted in. Coops of chickens

placed about under the trees at this would destroy insects therein, in any
12



season. If the soil be thoroughly satu-
rated with salt, it is prol)al)le that it



CUR



178



CUR



stage of their growth. But, though tlie crop. More rarely it attacks the pear
plum tree seems fond of saline matter, i blossom. Appears in March and April,
(and one of the most successful experi- : C.pyri. Pear Weevil. Dark brown,
inenters applied strong fish brine, at | very like the apple weevil. April.
the rate of three or four pails full to a | C. oblongus. Oblong Weevil. Red-
tree of moderate size,) it must be con- , dish-brown colour. Feeds on the young
fessed this is a somewhat dangerous : leaves of the peach, apricot, plum, pear,



mode, as the roots are forced to re-
ceive a large supply of so powerful an
agent at once.

" The best method of applying salt



against the Plum-Weevil is that of; in March and April



and apple. Appears in May.

C. pleurofttigma. See Ambury.

C. Uneatus. Striped Pea Weevil.
Ochreous colour, and striped. Appears



strewing it pretty thickly over the sur-
face, when the piinrtured plums com-
mence dropping. The surface of the
ground should be made smooth and
hard, and fine packing salt may then be
evenly spread over it, as flir as the



C. macular ins. Spotted Weevil. Gray
colour. April. Also destroys the pea.
Soot or lime sprinkled over peas early
in the morning before the dew is otf
from them, and so thickly as to cover
the soil about them, would probably



branches extend, and about a fourth of save them. To mitigate the attack of



an inch in depth. Should the weather
be fine, this coat will last until the fruit
infected has all fallen ; should it be dis-
solved or carried oft' by showers, it
must be replaced directly. The larvffi
or grubs of the Weevil, in this most
tender state, emerging from the plum
to enter the ground, will (all a prey to
the effect of the salt before they are
able to reach the soil. If this is care-
fully and generally practised, we have
little doubt of its finally ridding the
cultivator of this troublesome enemy,
even in the worst districts and soils."'

C. ciiprnis. Copper-coloured Weevil.
Attacks the leaves and young shoots of
the plum and apricot, as well as their
fruit. June and July.

C. bacchus. Purple or Apple Weevil.
Pierces the fruit of the apple, deposit-
ing within it its eggs. June and July.

" C. sulcatus. Colour, dull black.
Attacks the shoots and leaves of vines
in hot-houses in January, and those on
walls at the end of May or June. It
will also eat the leaves and fruit of the
peach. It deposits its eggs just below
the surface of the soil, and these not
only injure the roots of the vine, but
those of the seduni, saxifrage, trollius,
auricula, and primrose, detaching the
roots from the crowns.'" — Gard. Chron.
See a fuller description of this insect
under its modern name of Otyorh incus.

C. alliarixB. Stem-boring Weevil.
Steel-green colour. Bores the shoots
and grafis of young fruit trees. Ap-
pears in June and July.



the weevils upon trees, the only mode
is to spread a sheet beneath them, to
shake each branch, and to destroy those
beetles which fall. They usually feed
at night.

C. nucum. Nut Weevil, of v\'hich the
maggot is so frequent in our filberts.
Mr. Curtis thus describes it: — "The
insect is brown, with darker bands ; is
about a quarter of an inch long, and has
a long horny beak, about the middle of
which are placed antenna;. When the
nut is in a young state the female weevil
deposits a single egg. The maggot is
hatched in about a fortnight, and con-
tinues feeding in the interior of the nut
till it is full grown. The nut falls when
the maggot has no legs, nor, indeed,
has it any use for them, being hatched
in the midst of its food ; and when the
nut remains on the tree, it forces itself
out of the hole it eats in the nut, and
falls almost immediately to the ground.
The only remedy we are aware of is,
in the course of the summer to fre-
quently shake the trees, which will
cause all the eaten nuts to fall to the
ground, when they must be collected
and burned." — Gard. Chron.

C.picipes is a dull black, and is very
injurious in the vinery.

C. tenebricosus infests the apricot.
Mr. Curtis says, that " every crevice iu
old garden-walls often swarms with
these weevils; and nothing v/ould prove
a greater check to their increase than
stopping all crevices or holes in walls
with mortar, plaster of Paris, or Roman



C. pomorwn. Apple Weevil. Colour, \ cement, and the interior of hot-houses
dark brown. Attacks the blossom of | should be annually washed with lime ;
the apple, and often destroys the whole | the old bark of the vines under which



CUR



179



CUR



they lurk, should be stripped off early not one was curled
in the spring, and the roots examined full average crop
in October, when they exhibit any un



The produce, a



' Of No. 2 all came up, but from ten
healtiiy symptoms from the attacks of to fourteen days later than those of



the mafrgots of C. sulcahis

'' When the larvie are ascertained to
reside at the base of the wall, salt might
be freely sprinkled, which will kill
them as readily as it will the maggots
in nuts; strong infusions of tobacco-
water, aloes, and ([uassia, are also re-
commended." — Gard. Chron.

CURCUMA. Twenty-one species.
Stove herbaceous perennials. From C.
longa turmeric is obtained. Offsets.
Rich light soil



No. 1, and three of the plants sixteen
days later. Fourteen of the plants were
curled.

" Of No. 3 all came up, but from ten
to fourteen days later than those of No.
1. P'our plants were as severely curled
as those in No. 2, eight were less so,
and the remainder not at' all ; but of
these the produce was below an ave-
rage, and a full fortnightlater in ripening.

" Dickson, Crichton, Knight, and
others, have found that tubers taken up



CURL. A disease of the potato, before they are fully ripened, produce



*' Any one can ensure the occurrence
of this disease by keeping the sets in a
situation favourable to their vegetation,
as in a warm damp outhouse, and then
rubbing off repeatedly the long shoots
they have thrown out. Sets that have



plants not so liable to the curl as those
that have remained in the ground until
completely perfected ; and I believe
under ordinary treatment this to be the
fact, for it is rational. The process of
ripening proceeds-in the potato, as in



been so treated I have invariably found the apple, after it has been gathered ;
produce curled plants. Is not the rea- and until that is perfected it is accumu-
son very apparent ? The vital energy : lating vigour, shows no appetency to
had been weakened by the repeated ' vegetate, consequent!}' is not exhaust-
efforts to vegetate ; so that when planted , ing its vitality, which is a great point,
in the soil, their energy was unequal to considering the careless mode usually
the perfect development of the parts ; adopted to store them through the win-
for the curl is nothing more or less than ter ; for this energy commences its dc-
a distorted or incomplete formation of cline from the moment it begins to de-
the foliage, preceded by an imperfect velope the parts of the future plant.



production of the fibrous roots,

" The variety employed was the Early
Shaw. An equal number of whole mo-
derately-sized potatoes, that had been
treated in three different modes, were
planted the last week of March.

No. 1. Twenty sets that had been



Tubers taken from the soil before per-
; foctly ripe, never are so early in showing
symptoms of vegetation. Crichton, Hun-
ter, and Young, in some of the works
before referred to, have also agreed,
that exposing the sets to light and air,
allowing them to become dry and shri-



carefully kept cold and dry throughout veiled, also inducesthe curl in the plants

the winter, firm, unshrivelled, and with arising from them. This result of ex-

scarcely any symptoms of vegptation. perience also confirms my conclusion,

" No. 2. Twenty sets that had been that the disease arises from deficient

kept warm and moist, and from which vital energy; fiir no process, more than

the shoots, after attaining a length of this drying one of exposure to the light

six inches, had been thrice removed. and air, tends to take away from a tuber

'• No. 3. Twenty sets that had been the power of veL'etating altogether.



kept warm and moist for about half the



Every one acijuainted with the cul-



time that No. 2 liad, and from which tivation of the potato, is aware of the
the shoots, three inches in length, had great difl'erence existing in the varieties;



been removed only twice.



as to their early and rapid vegetation.



" All the sets were planted the same those that excel in this quality are of
morning, each exactly six inches below course the most easily excitable. A
the surface, and each with an unsprout- consequence of this is, that they are
ed eye upwards. The spring was ge- always planted earliest in the spring,
nial. I befi)re their vital power has become

" Of No. ], nineteen plants came up. very active ; and of all crops, practice
The twentieth seemed to have been re- demonstrates that these early ones are
moved by an accident. Of the nineteen , least liable to the curl. But what is



CUR



180



CUR



the consequence, on the contrary, if an j strong. They are first to be deprived
early variety is planted for a main crop of about two or three inches of the
later in the spring, when extraordinary : point, and cut into lengths often inches



pains in keeping them cold and dry
have not been employed to check their
vegetation, and consequent decrease of |
vital energy ? Such crop, then, is more
than any other liable to the disease,
and a good preventive has been sug-



or a foot, according to the size and
strength of the shoots.

Then, with a sharp knife, divest each
shoot of the whole of its buds, except-
ing three or four nearest the top of the
cutting, which must be left to form the



gested by Dr. Lindley, namely, that of branches of tlie future plant,
planting "the tubers in autumn, imme- : Rubbing off the buds is not sufficient;
diately after they have ripened. The they require to be picked out, or pared
results of my view of the disease, sus- ; very close, to prevent them from throw-
tained by numerous experiments, a're, ing up suckers, which materially affect
that it will never occur if the following the growth of the plants, and rob the
points are attended to: — First, that the fruiting branches of most of their nou-
sets are from tubers that exhibit scarcely rishment, when not displaced in proper
any symptoms of incipient vegetation ; time. The small buds towards the base
to effect which they ought, throughout of the cutting are always the most trou-
the winter, to be preserved as cool and blesome in this respect, and great care
as mucli excluded from the air as pos- , should be taken to remove them efFect-
sible. Secondly, that the tubers should ually before the cutting is inserted in
be perfectly ripened. .Thirdly, that they j the ground.

should be planted immediately after i Immediately underneath the part
they are cut. Fourthly, that the ma- which the lowest bud occupied make a
nure applied should be spread regular- clean horizontal cut, without displacing
ly, and mixed with the soil, and not any portion of the bark, and the cutting
along a trench in immediate contact ! is then complete.



with the sets. Fifthly, that the crop is
not raised for several successive years
on the same area." — Principles of Gar-
dening.

CURRANT. {Rihes.)

Black Currant. {R. nigrum.)

1. Black Grape.

2. Black Naples, largest and best.

3. Common Black.

4. Russian Green.

Red Currant. {R. rubrum.)
\. Common Red.
'2. Red Dutch, large and good.

3. Knight's Large Red, largest.

4. Knight's Sweet Red, large, and not

so acid as other red varieties.

5. Knight's Early Red.
Champagne.



6

7

red and white stripes
S. Striped-leaved.
9. Rock Currant.

White Currant. {R. album.)

1. Common White.

2. White Dutch, largest and best.

3. Pearl White.

4. Speary's White.
Soil. — Any fertile garden soil suits

them.

Propagation. — By Cuttings. — The
best shoots for propagating from are



A small spot is next to be dug and
got ready for them, and if it can be
obtained in a situation that is rather
shaded than otherwise, so much the
better.

The cuttings are then to be inserted
in rows a foot apart, six or eight inches
asunder, and two or three inches deep,
and the earth firmly pressed around
them, either with the hand, or by plac-
ing one foot on each side of the row, and
treading it from one end to the other. —
Gard. Chron.

Observe, those designed for common
standards should be trained up to a
twelve or fifteen inch stem, then en-
courage them to branch out all round
at that height to form a full head, for if



Striped-fruited — berries marked with suffered to branch away immediately

I from the bottom, they overspread the
ground, that no crops can grow near
them, as well as appear unsichtly, and
render it inconvenient to do the neces-
sary work — thin the branches to mode-
rate distances.

By Suckers. — All the sorts are too
apt to send up suckers from the roots ;
each sucker forming a proper plant is
the most expeditious mode of propa-
gating. They may be taken up in
autumn, winter, or spring, with roots,



those that are fully ripened, and not too 1 or even such as are without fibres will



CUR



181



CUR



succeed ; planting them either in nur- j purpose gives the following directions :
sery-rows for a year or two, or such as i" Procure stakes four feet in length,
are tall and strong may be planted at and three or three and a half inches in
once, where they are to remain, observ- circumference. To these, disposed after
ing to train the whole for the pur]>oscs this manner, XXXXX, train the trees
intended, as directed for the cuttings, in the fan method, and tie the shoots to
and they will form bearing plants after the stakes with matting. Independent
one or two years- growth. : of^being secure from the wind, there

The propagating by suckers is by are other advantages to be gained by
some objected to, alleging they incline this mode of training; the space taken
to run greatly to suckers again : there up is less, the pruning is more easily
is, however, but little foundation in performed, and the whole surface is
this, for it is peculiar to these shrubs, regularly exposed to the action of the
let them be raised either by seeds, sun and air. The wood is also equally
cuttings, or any other method. and properly ripened, and better crops

By Layers. — The young branches of well-flavoured fruit ensue,
being laid in autumn, winter, or spring, " By this means the late kinds are
will readily strike root, and next autumn likewise much more easily and more
be fit to transplant. securely protected from the depredation

In the general propagation of these of birds and wasps, and from injury by
shrubs we would observe, that as they frost or wet.

naturally throw out many suckers from "A single mat thrown over the bushes
the root, so as often to become trouble- is sufficient to preserve the fruit until
some, it is proper, previous to planting Christmas, or later. And moreover, by
the cuttings and suckers, &c., to rub off this system the trees in matting up are
close all the buds or prominent eyes not disfigured or crushed, the wet is
from the lower part, as far as they are more effectually kept off, as it does not
to be put into the ground, which will in I fall on the mat and soak through to the
some measure diminish their tendency fruit ; but from no flat surface being
in the production of suckers ; likewise, presented the rain runs off the mat as it
when transplanting the young plants, if falls ; the fruit is kept perfectly dry, and
they discover any tendency to the pro- there is little or no injury done to the
duction of suckers, let all such parts mat. The stakes never want renewing,
be also carefully rubbed ofl' close. — as the bushes, when once in a regular
Abercrombie. shape, support themselves." — Gard.

Grafting. — An anonymous writer in Chron.
the Gardener^s Chronicle observes, that After-Culture. — "Never allow the
"standard currants have a pretty ap- branches to be loo crowded, or to in-
pearance, and this is increased if they terfere with one another. The shoots
are grafted with opposite colours, such ■ which spring up in the centre are to be
as black and white, and red, or red and cut away very close, as well as the small
white. Allow the stock to reach four j shoots on the main branches, leaving
feet in height, then let it be stopped so only the external one, which must be
as to make a bushy compact head. shortened for about a third of its length.

" For standards or espaliers, train | If this is done, the bush will have the
cither horizontallyor bythe fan method, | form of a cup, with the branches ranged
about six shoots or more, according to regularly round the stem. Red and
the space you wish to cover on either white currants require the same treat-
side, leaving one for the centre to be ment, as they produce their fruit on
grafted. Train the same number of spurs. The black currant must be
shoots of the worked variety. Each managed differently, as it bears chiefly
leading shoot, if kept and spurred in, I on the shoots of the preceding year,
will bear abundantly, and the fruit will Instead, therefore, of spurring and
also be of finer quality, and of a sweeter otherwise shortening the branches, all
flavour, by being fully exposed to the that is necessary is to thin them, and