OF INSECTS, &C. 31.9 



resembling a strong cobweb, and fixed to the 

 branches of trees and shrubs. These nests should 

 be carefully picked off, and the insects crushed, by 

 which vast numbers of them will be destroyed. 

 After you have cleared the tree as well as you pos- 

 sibly can, wash it as above directed, which will 

 destroy those stragglers that may still remain on it. 



Observe, that after the trees come into flower, 

 instead of washing them with urine and soap-suds, 

 they should be well watered with clear lime-water, 

 mixed with tobacco-water. 



There are several species of moths that in the 

 caterpillar state are very hurtful to Plums and 

 other fruit-trees : it will, therefore, be a great 

 advantage to destroy them on their first appear- 

 ance. 



It would be of great service to get acquainted 

 as much as possible with the economy and natural 

 history of all these insects, as we might thereby be 

 enabled to find out the most certain method of 

 destroying them. Were a few of each sort of ca- 

 terpillars put in a box or case, and fed with leaves 

 of such trees as they generally live upon, they 

 might be observed from time to time until they 

 come to the chrysalis, and from that to the moth 

 or butterfly state, and thus a more perfect know- 

 ledge of them might be obtained. 



It would be necessary to have separate divisions 

 in the case for each different species, and to put 

 some earth in the bottom of each division, which 

 should be moistened occasionally, as some of them 



