I N S 



I N S 



tVAuch, Colniar>, anil Winter Bonchrtticns, 

 which keep much longer than Bcuncs, Crasanes, 

 See." 



For standards that have been grafted in the 

 spring, and have missed, he advises that they 

 siiould be cut below the graft, as, wIkui so 

 treated, they throw out a great number of shoots, 

 which should by no nieaus be too soon thinned, 

 as in that case they will be liable to be broken 

 by the wind. The weakest shoots may be be- 

 gun to be taken ofl' about the latter end of Mav 

 or beginnirig of June, About the middle of 

 the latter month, they will have acquired consi- 

 derable strength : then thin them ; leaving as 

 many strong regular shoots, and of those near- 

 est the top of the stem, as will form a handsome 

 head. If the stem be very strong it will be ne- 

 cessary, perhaps, to leave more than are intend- 

 ed to be inoculated, on purpose to receive the 

 sap, which will flow in great abundance from a 

 large trunk, and, without this precaution, be apt 

 to burst the shoots. He has often seen shoots 

 as large as his arm burst by a superabimdance 

 of sap. When that is likely to happen, the 

 bfst tiling is, to scarify the shoots, and rub a little 

 of the composition into the wounds. 



INSECT DISEASES, such vegetable diseases 

 as are produced by diflerent sorts of animals of 

 the insect tribe. See Vegetable Insect Dis- 

 eases. 



The chief insects that affect plants of the 

 fruit-tree kinds, are those of Aphis, Acarus, 

 Ant, Chermes, Cicada, Coccus, Earwig, Papi- 

 lio, Phalcena, and Thrips tribes. 



Of the first sort there are a vast number of 

 species, each tree being said to be infested by a 

 different distinct species. Hence the author of 

 the Sijs/ema Vegetabilium has denominated 

 them from the trees on which they are found ; 

 ae, the Cherry Aphis, Currant Aphis, Plum 

 Aphis, &c. The males are few in comjjarison 

 with the females, and have wings, while the 

 latter are numerous, and without them. See 

 PucERON and Vine-Fuettkr. 



The second is a highly destructive insect in 

 houses where forcing is practised. It is not fur- 

 nished vi'itli wings, but the female is ovipArous. 

 The species, as in the former, are very nume- 

 rous. It ofien commits great mischief on 

 vines, peaches, nectarines, cherries, I'orccd kid- 

 ney-beans, melons, &c. See Rf.d Spider. 



The third, or Ant, is highly injurious to 

 fruits, especially those of the peach kind, as they 

 become in a state of maturity. They run all 

 over the trees, and the best fruit is occasionally 

 lilled with them. It has been supposed by some 

 that they are of use by devouring the Aphides on 

 the trees ; but Mr. Forsyth is of a different opi- 



nion, and we have often seen fruit mucli spoiled 

 by them. 



The best rncthods of dcstroyiua; them, ac- 

 cording to the above author, is, by making- 

 holes in the ground along the side of the waft 

 where the fruit-trees are, by an iron crow, so 

 that the inside surface may be quite smooth. 

 These insects, from being disturbed, soon come 

 to the holes, and fall into them ; when, being 

 prevented from getting up by the smoothness of 

 the sides, they may be readily destroyed b\r 

 pouring water upon them. But more effectual 

 methods are, either by mixing quick-lime with 

 soot, and placing it in their tracks, or pullintj it 

 in their nests, and then pouring water, or urine 

 and soap-suds, upon it, so as to slake it, conlining 

 the heat by a turf, or some earth. ' The heat 

 thus produced soon destroys them. The pow- 

 der of stavesacre laid round the stems of trees, is 

 said to prevent their running up them. 



The fourth, or Chermes, belongs to the order 

 Hemiptera. 



There are several species. Their specific 

 names arc taken from the different plants on 

 which they are principally met with ; as the 

 Chermes graminis, or Grass Bug; Chermes ficuf, 

 or Fig-tree Bug, &c. The last Ls one of the 

 largest of the genus, being brown above and 

 greenish beneath, and has four long wings, 

 placed in the form of an acute roof. The larva 

 is of an oblong form, and has six feet, but its 

 motion is slow. When attempted to be caught, 

 the Chermes makes its escape rather by leaping 

 than flying, by means of its hinder legs, which 

 play like springs. Several of the species are 

 provided at the extremity of their bodies with 

 small sharp-pointed implements, but which lie 

 concealed ; and these they draw out in order to 

 deposit their eggs, by making punctures in the 

 plants that suit them. It is in this way that the 

 Fir-tree Chermes produces that enormous scaly 

 protuberance which is sometimes found at the 

 summit of the branches, and which is formed 

 by the extravasation of the juices occasioned by 

 the punctures. The young larv.TB shelter them- 

 selves in cells contained in the tiunour. These 

 insects are capaiffe of being destroyed in the 

 same manner as the Cocci tribe. 



The fifth, or Cicada, belongs to the same 

 order as the above. 



The larvre of many of this tribe void larire 

 quantities of frothy matter upon the leaves and 

 branches of the plants and trees, in the midst 

 of which they are alw ays concealed, probably 

 for protection, and to be shaded from the sun's 

 influence. These insects should be destroyed, 

 as the froth is unpleasant, and the leaves of the 

 trees are often devoured, by rubbing ofl" the 



