438 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ESSAY. 



ESSEX. 

 DESTRUCTION OF INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



BY SAMUEL P. FOWLER. 



The close connection in wliicli insects stand to the vegetable 

 creation, renders them deserving the attention of all, and should 

 make them the study of the farmer and horticulturist. It is 

 only by careful investigation, that we may become acquainted 

 with the relative position one holds to the other, and by this . 

 knowledge protect ourselves from their depredations. The dis- 

 tribution of insects has been supposed to be in proportion to the 

 diffusion of plants, and that the richer any country is in its veg- 

 etation, the greater will be its number of insects and weeds. 

 The same fact is also noticed by English agriculturists, and 

 these opinions coincide with my own, for I have observed how 

 closely they follow the footsteps of the cultivator. 



The existence of a small number of insects should be no 

 cause of alarm, as they are essential to the formation of links 

 in the great chain of the animal creation, and are no doubt 

 subservient to great ends, for it is only when found in excess, 

 that they become troublesome, — as for instance the rose bug, 

 (31elolontha,) so long as it ravages were confined to the rose, but 

 little was thought of it, and it did not attract the attention of 

 the horticulturist until it became a general feeder. 



There are two means of defence against noxious insects : first, 

 those employed by nature, and secondly, those which human 

 knowledge and skill can oppose to them. The means used by 

 nature to prevent or confine the mischief caused by insects, are 

 long continued rains, frequently considered unseasonable, but 

 happening at the pairing time, or during the caterpillar oj- larva 

 state, cause the death of thousands. Late spring frosts, so much 

 dreaded by farmers, are also beneficial by causing their destruc- 



