. Elliott's fruit book;. Fruit-culture; Fruit. [from old catalog]. 406 THE PLUM. June the curculio commences his task of propagation, and his mark will then be found near the apex of the fruit, at this time not much larger than a pea; as the fruit increases in size, the marks newly made will be found gradually approaching the stem, until in July, near the close of his labors, they will be found very near the stem. These last marks in July are not often found, as they are produced only from a few insects which have escaped late from the larva state, or, as some say, have, owing to shallow imbed
. Elliott's fruit book;. Fruit-culture; Fruit. [from old catalog]. 406 THE PLUM. June the curculio commences his task of propagation, and his mark will then be found near the apex of the fruit, at this time not much larger than a pea; as the fruit increases in size, the marks newly made will be found gradually approaching the stem, until in July, near the close of his labors, they will be found very near the stem. These last marks in July are not often found, as they are produced only from a few insects which have escaped late from the larva state, or, as some say, have, owing to shallow imbedding, in the earth and great heat, been transformed from eggs deposited the same season. The eggs, one of which is deposited in each crescent mark, soon hatches into a small white larva, which enters the body of the fruit and feeds upon it, causing, usually, its premature fall to the ground. The period at which the young fruit falls, after being punctured, varies with its age at the time of the injury. The earlier portions drop in about two weeks; but if the stone is hard when the egg is laid, the fruit remains till near the usual period of ripening, some- times presenting a fair and smooth exterior, but spoiled by the worm within. The insect, soon after the fall of the fruit, makes its way into the earth, where it is supposed to remain till the following spring, when it is transformed into the perfect insect or beetle, to lay its eggs and perpetuate its race. The curculio travels by flying, but only during quite warm wea- ther, or at the heat of the day, at which time a person lying flat upon his back under a tree, and perfectly still, can observe their movements. If the least motion or noise is made, they remain inactive. The insects mostly confine themselves to certain trees, or to the same orchard. But the fact that newly bearing and isolated orchards are soon attacked, clearly shows that in occasional instances they must travel considerable distances. Indeed, they have bee
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectfruitculture, bookyea
