No. 129 ] 531 



No one can clearly see these small flies with the naked eye 

 A microscope of large magnifying power should be used in order 

 to identify these enemies, because otherwise one might trouble 

 himself with taking measures for the destruction of swarms of 

 gnats or other little insects which do no harm whatever to grain. 



It has long ago been recommended to burn light brush or straw 

 on the outside of the wheat field on dark nights especially — as it 

 is said the flies rush into the flames. This should be dune when 

 the wheat is in flower. 



At any rate we ought fully to know the enemy before we set 

 about his destruction. 



Herpin says the best plan is not to plant wheat for a year or 

 two, on land which has had the insect. He believes that they 

 will for the most part perish if a difierent crop is planted — one 

 which they cannot subsist on. 



HUMBOLDT'S COSMOS— OR WORLD— OX VEGETATION. 



The interesting view of vegetation from the level of the sea 

 up to the height of that great Colossus of the Andes, Chinibora- 

 zo, whose height is that of Mount ^tna, and we must pile the 

 Keghi or Mount Athos on the summit of Chimborazo,in order to 

 form a just estimate of the elevation of the Dhawalagiri the 

 highest point of the Himalaya. On its slope, under the shade of 

 the Deodora and the broad leafed Oak peculiar to these Indian 

 Alps, the rocks of granite and of mica schist, are covered with 

 vegetable forms almost similar to those which characterize Eu- 

 rope and Northern Asia. The species are not identical, but 

 closely analogous in aspect and physiognomy, as the Juniper, 

 Alpine birch. Gentian, Marsh Parnassia and the prickly species 

 of Ribes. Note the species which compose the vegetation of the 

 Himalaya, are four pines, 25 oaks, 4 birches, two chestnuts, 7 

 maples, 12 willows, 14 roses, 3 strawberries, 7 Alpine roses, one 

 of which grows 20 feet high — and many other northern genera. 

 Large white apes with black faces, inhabit the wild chestnut tree 

 of Kashmir, which grows to the height of 100 feet. 



On the southern slopes the grains stop at 9,974 feet elevation. 

 Pastures were found by Girard as high as 17,000 feet. Birches at 



