96 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



of the caterpillar tribes, are stimulated to their most lively vo- 

 racity by the bright heat. 



The remedies prescribed in this work will be found, in gen- 

 eral, to apply to classes of insects rather than merely to single 

 species, and may therefore be made available in any locality. 



The first care of the cultivator should be to make himself 

 accurately acquainted with the formation, character, and habits 

 of those varieties of insects which his climate or locality may 

 produce, or which his crops invite, particularly their times of 

 first appearance and subsequent changes. Upon such knowl- 

 edge, well applied, he may often find the profits of his labor- 

 depending. It is as necessary to him as the diagnosis of dis- 

 ease to the physician. 



The known and reliable means of defense from the ravages 

 of insects are very limited. The field of patient and intelli- 

 gent observation and experiment in this department remains 

 comparatively unexplored, and may be entered with abundant 

 prospect of reward by any one of my readers. 



There are, however, a few points which it may be useful to 

 mention. 



1st. Insects have natural enemies in the parasites, or ich- 

 neumons, that deposit their eggs in the body of the insect or 

 its larva, or in the chrysalis. In these living nests the young 

 interloper is hatched, and lives upon the substance and de- 

 stroys the life of his victim. These hidden foes, of which it is 

 probable each variety of insect has at least one, are always 

 present, always active, and can not be eluded. Others war open- 

 ly, as the short yellow worm, the larva of the syrphus, that 

 lives upon the cabbage aphis, blind, but always following his 

 prey ; also the numerous aphis-eaters, as the larvae of the spot- 

 ted or " lace-winged" and " golden-eyed" flies, and the lady- 

 bug, both in the larva and perfect state. These natural ene- 

 mies we can transfer from plant to plant when necessary, thus 

 putting them upon the track of their prey. 



Among larger insects, their foes are the dragon-fly or darn- 

 ing-needle, and especially a smaller blackish fly, looking like a 

 cross between a dragon-fly and wasp, which hunts for his food 

 with the activity and intelligence of a terrier. The birds, also, 



