146 OBSERVATIONS ON BLIGHT. 



tree : up this he chmbs, and hides himself in some nice Hltle 

 crack in the bark. I should remark, that the fall of the apple,, 

 the exit of the grub, and his wandering to this place of security, 

 usually take place in the night time. In this situation he 

 remains without stirring for a day or two, as if to rest himself 

 after the uncommon fatigue of a two yards' march ; he then 

 gnaws away the bark a little in order to get further in out of 

 the way of observation; and having made a smooth chamber 

 big enough for his wants, he spins a beautiful little milk-white 

 silken case, in which, after a few weeks, he becomes a chry- 

 salis, and in this state remains throughout the winter and 

 until the following June, unless some unlucky, blackheaded tit, 

 running up the trunk, peeping into every cranny, and whistling 

 out his merry see-saw, happen to spy him, in which case he is 

 plucked without ceremony from his retreat, and his last mo- 

 ments are spent in the bird's crop ; but supposing no such ill- 

 fortune betide him, by the middle of June he is again on the 

 wing, and hovering round the young apples on a midsummer 

 evening as before. 



By burning weeds in your gardens at this time of year you 

 will effectually drive away this little moth. If you have trees 

 the crops of which you value, make a smoking (mind, not a 

 blazing) fire under each ; it will put you to some inconve- 

 nience if your garden be near your house, but the apples will 

 repay you for that. 



If you think these observations on the blights of the apple 

 worth recording, you shall hear from me again, (as I have 

 made similar notes on the hop-fly, turnip-fly, &c.) I have 

 sent Mr. Loudon a few notes on birds, which I believe do 

 not come within the compass of your Mag. 



Yours, ike. RusTicus, 



Godalmimj, Amj. 14, 1832. 



