366 DESTRUCTION OF FOLIAGE BY INSECTS. 



concerned in this annihilation of verdure ; but the 

 little ermine moths (phalcena evonymella, and ph. 

 padella) were the chief performers in this denuding 

 process. In July the perfected moths swarmed 

 about the scene of their birth in vast numbers ; yet 

 such was the retrieving "power of Nature, that by 

 the middle of August only a small portion of the 

 injury occasioned by these creatures was to be 

 observed, the summer-shoot bursting out, and 

 covering the sprays with the verdure of spring. 

 The chief singularity in all this was the appearance 

 of the sloe-bush, all the foliage being consumed by 

 insects, or crisped away by severe winds, leaving 

 the sprays profusely covered with the small young 

 fruit, perfectly uninjured, and proceeding in its 

 growth ; so that, by the time the foliage was 

 renewed in August, it had obtained its usual size. 

 This was the case, too, with the crab, and some of 

 the orchard fruits, presenting the unusual sight of 

 fruit growing alone on the boughs without leaves ; 

 so that, in fact, the offices of inspiration, transpira- 

 tion, and all their consequences, usually accom- 

 plished by the leaves of plants, must have been 

 suspended, or performed by other organs, as no 

 deficiency of vegetative powers was apparent. 



But insects alone were not the cause of all the 

 denudation and unsightly appearance which our 

 orchard and other trees so remarkably presented 

 this year ; for the destruction of the foliage was 

 accomplished in part by some malignant influences, 

 not well understood. Like the Egyptian king, we 



