LAMP-OIL OBTAINED FROM LARVJE. 125 



fields near Norwich, that the court of that city, out 

 of compassion, presented him with twenty-five 

 pounds. Some idea of their numbers on this 

 farmer's property may be formed from the fact 

 that the farmer and his servant declared, with 

 very long faces, we may be sure, that they had 

 gathered eighty bushels of them. Sometimes 

 they even attack the roots of young trees, and in 

 this manner do an incalculable amount of mischief 

 to plantations. They were at one time so abun- 

 dant in France, and did such immense mischief, 

 that the Government, in order to get rid of them, 

 offered a handsome reward for the best method of 

 destroying them. A number of experiments were 

 made, and it really seemed as if nothing would 

 kill these larvse, in the way of poison at least, for 

 several poisons which are rapidly fatal to man and 

 animals failed to produce the least effect on them. 

 It was found, however, at last, that a solution of 

 alkalies, such as potash and soda, were certain 

 poisons to them, and should land be much infested 

 with them, it would be worth the trial to water it 

 with such solutions, especially as they tend rather 

 to enrich the soil than otherwise. A French 

 manufacturer, determining to turn the visitation 



