173 INSECTS. 



The proportion above-mentioned, of two or three ounces ol 

 soap to a gallon of water, is, probably, most advisable. 



CUT-WORM. This is an ash-coloured worm, with a stripe 

 almost black on its back. When fully grown it is about 

 the size $>f a goose-quill, and about an inch and a quarter in 

 length. They are very apt to cut off young cabbages, cau- 

 liflowers, beets, &c. They never voluntarily appear on the 

 surface of the ground in the day time, but may be found 

 about an inch below it. In the night they make their 

 excursions, cut off the stems of young plants just at the top 

 of the ground, and again bury themselves. 



Dr. Deane observed, " I once prevented their depreda- 

 tions in my garden, by manuring the soil with sea-mud, 

 newly taken from the flats. The plants generally escaped, 

 though every one was cut off in a spot of ground that lies 

 contiguous. From the success of this experiment, I con- 

 clude that salt is very offensive or pernicious to them. 

 Lime and ashes, in some measure, prevent their doing mis- 

 chief; but sea-water, salt, or brine, would be more effectu- 

 al antidotes. The most effectual, and not a laborious 

 remedy, even in field-culture, is to go round every morning, 

 and open the earth at the foot of the plant, and you will 

 never fail to find the worm at the root, within four inches. 

 Kill him, and you will save not only the other plants of 

 your field, but, probably, many thousands in future years." 



There is some danger in making use of salt, brine, or 

 sea-water, of injuring the plants in attempting to destroy 

 insects; and we should, therefore, generally prefer decoc- 

 tions of elder, walnut leaves, or tobacco. Mr. Preston, of 

 Stockp<5rt, Penn., preserved his cabbage-plants from cut- 

 worms, by wrapping a hickory-leaf round the stem, between 

 the roots and leaves. N. E. Farmer, vol. iii. p. 369. The 

 Hon. Mr. Fiske, of Worcester, Mass., in speaking of this 

 insect, says, " To search out the spoiler, and kill him, is the 

 very best course ; but, as his existence is not known except 

 by his ravages, I make a fortress, for my plants, with paper, 

 winding it conically and firmly above the root, and securing 

 it by a low embankment of earth." TV. E. Farmer, vol. iv. 

 p. 362. 



LICE ON APPLE-TREES. There is a species of insect in- 

 festing apple-trees, which may" be styled the bark-louse, to 

 distinguish it from the plant-louse, or aphis. It is, in form, 

 like half a kernel of rye, but much smaller, with the flat 

 side sticking to the bark of the tree. Jesse Buel, Esq., of 

 Albany, gives the following statement of 'tis mode bJ 



