Caterpillars, Ants, Worms, Sfc. 389 



I kept the insect under very well, but it soon outstripped my 

 exertions, and established itself on the branches ; so I deter- 

 mined to let the fruit ripen, and attack my enemy in his 

 quarters before the commencement of winter ; and finding 

 that the insect existed upon the sap alone, I naturally con- 

 cluded that if I could case the stems and branches of the 

 trees with any thin substance, I should succeed in putting an 

 end to the progress of the insect. In pursuance of my plan, 

 at the latter end of October, I ordered my gardener to pro- 

 cure some quick -lime and mix it with water, and then directed 

 him to whitewash the trees with it, and lay it on pretty thick 

 upon the stems and larger branches : he obeyed my instruc- 

 tions to the letter ; the trees were completely cased in lime. 

 The winter season passed, spring came ; the trees were covered 

 as usual with abundance of blossoms, for they are yet excel- 

 lent bearers, and I was rejoicing at the success of my experi- 

 ment ; but I soon discovered that it had completely failed, for 

 an abundance of the insects were found by me, even where 

 the lime was thickest, and are even now, while I am writing, 

 still upon the trees, especially on this year's shoots. But I 

 intend to try one other experiment at the close of the autumn ; 

 and as some of my friends were anxious to know the result 

 of this first experiment, I thought that the best method was 

 to communicate the result to you for insertion in the widely 

 circulated Gardener's Magazine. 



I have the pleasure to remain, Sir, &c. 



Thos. C. Huddlestone. 

 Newark on Trent, August 1. 1826. 



Art. VIII. Recipe for composing a Liquid for effectually 

 destroying Caterpillars, Ants, Worms, and other Insects. By 

 Mr. James Burges, Gardener to the Reverend Richard 

 Lane, of Coffleet, Devonshire. 



Sir, 

 I have perused the first, second, and third numbers of 

 your excellent work, the Gardener's Magazine, with much 

 gratification, but have not met with any thing for effectually 

 destroying insects. Permit me, therefore, to inform you of 

 a composition of a liquor for destroying caterpillars, ants, 

 worms, and other insects. Take black soap one pound and 

 half, sulphur vivum one pound and half, nux vomica two 

 ounces, mushrooms of any kind two pounds, rain or river 



