of Saft in Horticulture. 05 



deserts, and the quantity of insects which each brings in, while 

 the careless and indolent are proportionably punished. My 

 informant assured me, that the ravages of these insects, the 

 great number of hands that are required to destroy them, arid 

 the high price of labour at the Cape, have prevented the culti- 

 vation of vines, and the consequent improvement of the colony, 

 more than any other circumstance. To extirpate these creatures, 

 I advised salt to be spread upon the surface of the ground in 

 which the vines are planted, and I am promised an account of 

 the result of the experiment. Should 1 receive this, I shall not 

 fail to communicate it. 



It is not a mere speculation that common salt will prevent the 

 ravages of worms and insects in gardens, for it has so often been 

 tried by gardeners of experience, that no doubt can remain on 

 the subject. More than fifty years ago, Mr. Thomas Hitt, who 

 was gardener to Lord Robert Manners at Bloxholme in Lincoln- 

 shire, and afterwards to Lord Robert Bertie, at Chislehurst in 

 Kent, published a very interesting work on the Management of 

 Fruit-Trees J in which he gives a variety of directions for the 

 use of common salt, founded upon the experience of many years' 

 practice. This work is written ynih so much modesty, and is 

 throughout so totally unassuming, that one feels inclined to 

 receive his testimony without hesitation. The following brief 

 extracts will, I trust, be interesting to the Society. 



" I have," says he, " observed two sorts of caterpillars 

 feed upon fruit-trees, the one black, and the other green ; the 

 black generally make their appearance in March, if the season 

 be dry, upon the pear-tree, apple, and several others. Tlie 

 green caterpillar, that feeds upon fruit-trees, for ought I know, 

 may be the same as those that were black at their first appear- 

 ance, but by green food their colour may be changed ; but I 

 have found them very prejudicial to both the young branches 

 and fruit of the apricot, cherry, plum, apple, pear, currant, 

 gooseberry, ^c. When the caterpillars are first perceived upon 

 wall or dwarf trees, I have prepared a brine, the same as for 

 washing of walls at the time of pruning, and therein dipt a 

 brush or besom, and swept the trees all over ; this has destroyed 

 ■ Vol. X. F 



