JULY.] DESTROYING INSECTS. 249 



hung about the branches, half filled with honey and 

 water, or with sugar and small-beer. These should 

 be emptied and replaced once in two or three days, 

 otherwise they do not take so well, these little ani- 

 mals being extremely sagacious, and disliking the 

 appearance of their own dead. 



Wasps and flies may be killed very fast, by dip- 

 ping a feather in a little sweet oil, and touching 

 their backs with it. They will instantly die, When 

 intent on the fruit, and half buried in the excava- 

 tions they have made, they are easily come at, and 

 are not apt to fly about. Insects of different kinds 

 are easily killed by oil. It closes up the lateral 

 pores by which they breathe. 



The earwig and wood4(mse also begin to prey on 

 fruits as they ripen. There is a very simple w r ay of 

 ensnaring them, and by which they may be taken 

 alive in great quantities. Place four-inch cuts of 

 reeds, bean-haulm, or strong wheat straw, among 

 the branches, and also lay a number on the ground 

 at the bottom of the wall. In these the insects take 

 refuge at day-break, as they depredate chiefly in the 

 night, and any time through the day they may be 

 blown into a bottle with a little water in it, and so 

 be drowned. 



Snails may be destroyed as directed in April, and 

 must now be carefully looked after. 



