APRIL.] DESTROYING INSECTS. 227 



Currant and gooseberry bushes may be fumigated 

 as above, by throwing over them a sheet or blanket, 

 and laying a few stones or bricks on its edges, to 

 keep it close down. I have even fumigated these, 

 and also wall and standard trees, without using any 

 cover at all ; and that very effectually, by doing it 

 early, in a still dewy morning, going from tree to 

 tree, or from bush to bush, and returning again and 

 again, giving them the other puff, till the insects 

 became quite sick ; then dashed them off with the 

 engine, and had the ground about the roots of the 

 plants dug over, in order to bury them. Sick they 

 most certainly w^ere, and, dead or alive, I never could 

 discover a resurrection. 



The thrips is a small destructive insect, hardly 

 visible to the naked eye. When viewed through a 

 glass, the larvae appear of a high brown, or reddish 

 colour. The complete insect has four wings, and 

 walks with the lower part of its body turned up- 

 wards. They are very mischievous, and chiefly at- 

 tack the extremities of tender shoots, or young 

 leaves. They may be destroyed by a fumigation of 

 tobacco, in the same manner as the green fly. The 

 shoots and leaves they attack become shrivelled, 

 brown, and rub to dust easily between the thumb 

 and finger. When any leaves or shoots are perceiv- 

 ed to be so, if you do not recognize the green fly, 

 expect the thrips. 



By this simple and expeditious method, fumiga- 

 tion, these insects, and several others, may be effec- 

 tually destroyed at any time they happen to appear. 

 The mode recommended by the late Mr Forsyth, 



p2 



