254 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



Bwarms, though they are there occasionally formidable to the agricul- 

 turist. We are told that nearly as much damage is done by their 

 touch as by what they devour. Their bite is thought to contaminate 

 the plants, and either to destroy or greatly weaken their vegetation. 

 Barrow states that in Southern Africa, the whole surface of the 

 ground might some years literally oe said to be covered with them for 

 an area of two thousand square miles. 



The most remarkable species of this insect is the seventeen years 

 locust, so common, in particular seasons, in some parts of the United 

 States. They emerge from the ground towards the end of April, and 

 always during the night. On their first coming out, they are in the 

 pupa state ; but the back soon bursts, and the perfect fly appears. 

 They begin to lay eggs about the end of May ; these are deposited 

 in close lines of two inches long, in the tender twigs of trees. As soon 

 as the young attain their growth, in the grub state, they fall to the 

 ground, and make their way two or three feet underneath the surface, 

 in order to undergo their change into the pupa form. Soon after 

 attaining their last transformation, they are found in great numbers 

 over large districts of country. They appear about every seventeen 

 years, though it is highly probable, that the periods of their return 

 vary according to the heat of the climate, and other circumstances. 

 These insects have been known to make their appearance in the city 

 of Philadelphia in great numbers, penetrating from their subterranean 

 residence between the bricks of a pavement. 



LOCUST-TKEE. This valuable and ornamental tree, which is 

 so frequently cultivated in the Atlantic States, and which is highly 

 prized in Europe, grows wild in great profusion among the Alleghany 

 Mountains, and throughout the Western States, even to the borders of 

 the sandy plains which skirt the base of the Rocky Mountains. 

 When in bloom, the large, pendulous recesses of fragrant white flow- 

 ers, contrasting with the light green foliage, produce a fine effect, and 

 give this tree a rank among the most ornamental. The flowers, 

 resembling in form those of the pea, diffuse a delicious perfume, and 

 are succeeded by a flat pod. The branches and young stems are 

 usually armed with thorns. The wood is compact, hard, capable of 

 receiving a fine polish, and has the valuable property of resisting de- 

 cay longer than almost any other. The color is greenish yellow, with 

 brown streaks. Locust posts are consumed in enormous quantities, 

 and everywhere preferred where they can be obtained. It is also 

 used in ship-building. 



LOGWOOD. Logwood, is used in great quantities for dyeing pur- 

 ple, and more especially black. All the colors, however, which can 

 be prepared from it, are of a fading nature, and cannot, by any art, 

 be made equally durable with those prepared from some other mate- 

 rials. Of all the colors prepared from logwood, the black is the 

 most durable. Dr. L?wis rejommtnds it as an ingredient in making 



