

v. 



>*• ^ 



- 



> a ^n Kjugs. 129 



These lftseo^.by-p'uncturing the branches with their 

 proboscis, cause them to discharge a large quantity of 

 gummy secretion, which very soon hardens and drops 

 from the tree, when it is easily collected by the na- 

 tives, who believe it to be the real manna of the Isra- 

 elites. 



Our currant bushes, young apple, and peach trees, 

 often suffer from the ravages of different species of 

 bark-lice, and not unfrequently are destroyed by them. 

 Many small birds feed principally on these species of 

 Lice, but in spite of this, their multiplication is often 

 so great, that we must rely upon other and artificial 

 means to destroy them. 



Dr. Harris, of Cambridge, mentioning them in his 

 " Report on the Insects of Massachusetts, injurious to 

 vegetation," says, "the best application for the destruc- 

 tion of the Lice, is a wash made of two parts of soft 

 soap, and eight of water, with which is to be mixed 

 lime enough to bring it to the consistence of thick 

 white-wash. This is to be put upon the trunks and 

 limbs of the trees with a brush, and as high as practi- 

 cable, so as to cover the whole surface, and fill all the 

 cracks in the bark. The proper time for washing over 

 the trees, is in the early part of June, when the in- 

 sects are young and tender." 



This may appear to my enthusiastic j^oung friends, 



like advocating wholesale murder, and they may deem 

 8 



