IN THE FRUIT GARDEN. 511 



of the Masculine, by fixing up nets at six or nine 

 inches from the wall, either single or double, according 

 to the size of the meshes. 



Instead of net, fern may be used, by pushing the 

 ends of the fronds, or leaf-stalks, under the branches, 

 allowing the leaves to form a thin covering all over 

 the tree. This covering must be allowed to remain till 

 the fruit has attained the size of a small hazel-nut, 

 when, during a mild showery day, the whole may be 

 removed. 



Where Apple trees are infested with the White Mealy 

 Insect (aphis lanigera) commonly called the American 

 blight, the limbs and trunk should be completely 

 divested of their loose bark ; and all places where the 

 insects have formed excrescences round the knots, or 

 otherwise secreted themselves, should be pared off 

 smooth with a sharp knife, and the other scraped off 

 clean to the live bark. The Wash for the Stems and 

 Branches of Fruit Trees (p. 509.) must be now ap- 

 plied with a strong painter's brush, till the bark is com- 

 pletely covered with it. As this insect penetrates the 

 ground, fixing itself upon the bottom of the stem and 

 large roots immediately connected with it, the mould 

 must be removed round the bottom of the tree to the 

 principal roots, and the composition applied as far as 

 any trace of it is to be found. It will be necessary 

 also, as far as it is practicable, to apply it to every part 

 of the branches where it has made its appearance. The 

 aphis lanigerabecomes winged in the month of August, 

 and spreads itself from one tree to another ; if, therefore, 

 any of it at that time is found to have escaped the first 

 dressing, the composition should be repeated again as 

 before, taking the early part of the month for this pur- 

 pose. By pursuing this plan, this deadly enemy to our 

 Apple trees may be destroyed, or its depredations so 

 much checked, as to cause but a very trifling injury to 



