Darling's Address upon Injurious Insects. 191 



insects bore out the wood within. But the tree blossoms, if an insect has 

 not eaten the flower buds, and the fruit sets. The plum-weevil puts its 

 new-moon mark upon the young apple, and it drops from the tree. What 

 escapes the weevil, the apple-moth takes possession of for its offspring. 

 We may have the apple, but we must take it with its disgusting inhabitant. 

 Fortunate the farmer of this vicinity may be, the present season, if he ob- 

 tains from a tree that should yield him ten barrels of fruit, ten fair apples. 

 This is one sample of insect depredation. Time is not allowed me for 

 particular reference to other cases. Your own sorrowful recollections of 

 ruined crops, of fruits lost or made disgusting, of flowers despoiled of 

 beauty, will supply ample reasons for regret, that we have failed so lament- 

 ably to obtain dominion over these ' creeping things.' " 



The truth of this must be apparent to all ; but how to guard 

 against such vile depredators is the question. This is the 

 information we want, and, so far as the limits of an address 

 will permit, the author has endeavored to offer brief sugges- 

 tions to "doctor off" many of those which most annoy the 

 cultivator. Some kinds are quite mider the control of all, if 

 the means already known are persevered in; while there are 

 others, whose habits being yet little known, pursue their de- 

 structive course without check. 



The first object must be to learn their habits ; knowing this, 

 we may then turn our attention to the best means of arresting 

 their ravages. The former is no inconsiderable task, and not 

 often likely to be within the means of cultivators. To the 

 naturalist whose investigating studies have taught most that 

 is known in this respect, we must look for additional aid ; yet 

 all should not be left to him' — the practical man may assist 

 and do much to aid him — and when the changes which in- 

 sects undergo, are made known, remedial means may be sug- 

 gested, and carried into effect. 



The aphides are most annoying insects, and easily de- 

 stroyed ; yet, because they do not actually devour the plants, 

 they are too often neglected, until their numbers greatly in- 

 crease the labor of their destruction. The necessity of im- 

 mediate attention to their first appearance, will be seen from 

 the following extract : — 



"Next to be considered is an insect that does not devour the leaves of 

 trees, but sucks out their juices. It is the Plant-louse, (Aphis.) It is to 

 be seen on the underside of the leaves of almost every species of plant. 

 And there is appropriated to almost every species of plant its distinct species 



