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INSKCTS which infect the plants are almost as numerous as the 

 'plants themselves, almost every species having a particular insect 

 which it seems destined by nature to support. The eggs of insects 

 seldom increase in size from the time they have been deposited by 

 the parent until they are hatched. Different species of insects 

 remain enclosed in the egg for different periods : some continue 

 enclosed in the egg for months, others only for a few days. The 

 insect in its second or caterpillar state is usually known by the 

 name of Eruca or Larva. The Larva of insects differ very much 

 from each other, according to the several tribes to which they 

 belong : those of the Butterfly (Papilio) and Moth (Phalina) 

 are generally known by the name of Caterpillars; those of the 

 Beetle, (Scarabeus) and those that inhabit the water, are called 

 grubs. 



LAWN. In gardening, a surface of turf or grasses, kept short by 

 frequent cutting, and generally situated near the house. 



LIME. If quick lime, either fresh, or burnt, or slaked, be mixed 

 with moist vegetable substances, it soon destroys their texture, and 

 forms a mixture the greater part of which can be dissolved in 

 water, thus rendering what was previously useless fit for the food 

 of plants. It is much more useful in farms than gardens. 



LIGHT is essentially necessary to the growth of plants, as also 

 its exclusion for blanching or etiolation, as no exposure to cold or 

 fresh air would produce toughness and hardiness 1 , if plants were 

 kept in the dark ; and no absence of cold or fresh air would pro- 

 duce blanching if light were admitted. A .partial exclusion of light 

 .causes plants to be pale and sickly, as in the shade of thick woods 

 or under trees, as is the case where plants shoot out long branches 

 in search of air and light : hence the term is said to be drawn. 



Light appears to be as necessary to the health of plants as air 

 or moisture. A plant may indeed grow without it, but it does not 

 appear a species could be so continued. Under such a privation, 

 the parts which are usually so grown assume a white colour, as is 

 the case with vegetables grown in a cellar, or protected by a 

 covering for the sake of producing this very effect : thus Celery, 

 Endive, &c., is in this manner blanched or etiolated. 



" The part of the process of vegetable life for which light is 

 especially essential, appears to be in the functions of the leaves ; 

 these are affected by this agent in a remarkable degree. The 



