162 ON THE BLIGHT 



that in other parts of the county, and in York- 

 shire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Shropshire, Middle- 

 sex, &c., many were similarly affected ; and it 

 is probable, that the mischief extended much 

 further. The damage done to the first leaves 

 was, in a considerable degree, repaired by the 

 developement of a second set, about the close of 

 June, and the beginning of July, the lively tints 

 of which gave to our oak woods, at that season 

 of the year, the appearance of spring ; but the 

 bloom, as well as the early foliage, having been 

 nearly destroyed, the crop of acorns, which had 

 promised to be unusually abundant, proved re- 

 markably defective. 



Various were the opinions entertained as to 

 the cause of this blight, as it was generally 

 termed ; it being severally ascribed to disease ; 

 to lightning ; to the cold winds which prevailed 

 in the spring of the year ; and to the ravages of 

 insects. The last conjecture happens to be cor- 

 rect; but few persons gave themselves the trouble 

 to establish its accuracy by actual observation, 

 and still fewer endeavoured to determine the spe- 

 cies of these depredators. Their vast multitudes 

 may, with much plausibility, be attributed to the 

 high temperature of the preceding year, 1826, 

 having been extremely favourable to their in- 

 crease ; for, in the same season, many other 



