236 APPENDIX. [No. XV.B. 



and which appear to succeed, I have no doubt means may be applied to 

 cut them down at once ; and the first opportunity I have I shall try my 

 experiments on a larger scale, when I think I may be able immediately 

 to put a stop to the disease. The balance of nature must be restored ; and 

 this year we may not see the disease. Science and history show that the 

 calamity will be transitory ; and, further, we have a higher promise, for it 

 is said, "I will rebuke the destroyer for your sake, and he shall not 

 destroy the fruits of your ground." 



MONTHLY REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE IN VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS 

 ON APHIDES. BY ALFRED SMEE. 



MONTHLY REPORT OF APHIDES FOR JANUARY 1847. 



Aphides having appeared to such excess that vegetation has been 

 damaged and famine produced, it requires that continual observations 

 should be made to ascertain the exact position and numerical strength of 

 this vast army of insects, that we may be better enabled, when spring 

 advances, to fight with success the formidable battle. It is now a question 

 whether men or aphides are to live ; for, if aphides continue in the same 

 ratio to increase for the next two or three years, millions of human beings 

 must inevitably perish; but, if we can but extirpate this overwhelming 

 troop, food will again abound and famine will cease. 



The vastator is our great enemy, and from the number and importance 

 of the plants which it kills, it deserves our fullest attention. As this is 

 my first monthly report, I shall commence by recapitulating those plants 

 the death of which I have actually myself traced to the action of the 

 vastator. 



PLANTS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE VASTATOR. 



Wild Plants. Cultivated Plants. 



Shepherd's-purse . over large tracts. Beet rarely. 



Groundsel . . . abundantly. Spinach .... whole crops. 



"Wild turnip . . numerous. Turnip .... abundantly. 



mustard . . ditto. Carrot .... plenty. 



Solanum nigrum . plenty. Parsnip .... more rare. 



dulcamara more scarce. 

 Yiolet . plenty. 



Clover .... ditto. 

 Pasture grass . . ditto. 

 Nettle .... occasionally. 

 Spurge .... abundantly. 

 Geranium molle . rarely. 



There are, however, many plants which I have not yet noticed to be 

 utterly destroyed by its ravages, but are only partially or locally affected ; 

 and all plants which are sometimes killed, are at other times but partially 

 or locally damaged. 



