APRIL.] DESTROYING INSECTS. 231 



from the tobacconist, I should have had complete 

 success., with much less trouble. But after I had 

 discovered the proper use, and good effects of this 

 liquor, and had determined to persevere in the ap- 

 plication of it, we unfortunately had a heavy fall of 

 snow (in the end of May 1809), which lay frozen 

 on the trees the whole of the night ; and knowing 

 that this would strip the trees of their fruit, I dis- 

 continued any further applications of the liquor on 

 my fruit-trees for the season. 



" By this time the gooseberry caterpillar had at- 

 tacked my bushes in a most unmerciful manner. 

 p lndeed I never saw them more terribly annoyed. I 

 had instant recourse to the tobacco-liquor, in its 

 strongest state, and soon had the satisfaction of see- 

 ing millions of caterpillars lying upon the ground, 

 so sick, that few of them could make an effort to get 

 up again ; but in order to make sure work, I gave 

 my bushes a second washing over with the liquor, 

 and they were completely cleaned. 



" By these applications of tobacco-liquor, my trees 

 and. bushes acquired a freshness of verdure, quite 

 uncommon. I consequently deem it, not only a safe, 

 but a wholesome liquor, with which to wash fruit- 

 trees of all kinds, even in the strength of their 

 growth. I need hardly say to you, who saw them, 

 that this season, my gooseberries were both very 

 good in quality, and exceedingly abundant in quan- 

 tity 



" I beg leave to mention here, that the caterpil- 

 lars on my gooseberries were of a quite different spe- 

 cies from those on my fruit-trees. The caterpillar 



