272 SKETCHES OP RURAL AFFAIRS. 



notice the fruiting of the trees, and the business of 

 in-gathering, it will be desirable to give an account of 

 the evils which thus check the productive powers of the 

 trees, and disappoint the hopes of the gardener. 



American or white blight (Eriosoma mail) is perhaps 

 the most destructive pest of the orchard. This insect is 

 said to have been brought to this country from France, 

 in the reign of Louis XIV., when a colony of refugees 

 settled at Paddington, where this sort of blight soon 

 committed great ravages. Others affirm that it first 

 made its appearance in a nursery -ground at Chelsea, 

 being probably imported from North America. From 

 whatever quarter, it certainly made great havoc in the 

 nurseries of the metropolis, and was speedily distributed 



BLIGHTED BRANCH. 



throughout the country. The best account of this 

 insect we have yet met with, is given in the Journal of 

 a Naturalist, and is as follows : " In the spring of the 

 year a slight hoariness is observed upon the branches of 

 certain species of our orchard fruit. As the season ad- 

 vances this hoariness increases ; it becomes cottony, and 

 towards the middle or end of summer, the under sides 

 of some of the branches are invested with a thick downy 

 substance, so long, as at times to be sensibly agitated by 



