OBSERVATIONS. 93 



in hand by government, is, because we are not 

 all of one opinion ; s.ome laugh at the idea of dis- 

 coveries, and say, " I will follow the old school," 

 while others will despise them for their apparent 

 absurdity : however, time proves all things, and 

 the mortification our neighbours would feel in 

 having their trees eaten up by the canker, while 

 ours were healthy and flourishing, would be 

 perhaps the most effectual way of producing 

 conviction, and thereby bringing the compo- 

 sition into general use ; for the fly, finding our 

 trees not in a fit state for its young, would natu- 

 rally visit those of our neighbours, who were 

 inclined by obstinacy to protect them. 



As this insect has not been known in this 

 country above thirty years, and probably not 

 more than two or three flies of each sex in their 

 larva or maggot state first imported, it shews 

 with what facility it breeds ; for there is not a 

 county in England but what is troubled with 

 this insect ; in fact, so alarmingly so, that few 

 gentlemen will plant on a large scale, knowing, 

 that when the trees ought to be turning to 

 profit, they are going to decay; the effect of 

 which is already greatly felt by our agricul- 

 turalists, whose apples , having grown on dis- 

 eased trees will not keep, and consequently, 

 for some years past, our London markets have 



