Quarterly Journal of Agriculture. 177 



ment to one part of the plant instead of to the whole ; to the parts above 

 ground to the exclusion of the parts under it. Hence it is that by ringing 

 or wiring plants on rich soils, the same effects are produced as if they grew 

 on poor ones. " Though plants differ from animals, in reference to this 

 singular law, which we have here ventured to establish from an extensive 

 induction of particulars, they agree, in other respects, in the influence which 

 an abundant supply of nourishment exercises in the increase of the number 

 and size of the progeny." 



On the Insect which attacks the Ear of Wheat. — This is a beautiful paper, 

 evidently by the editor. " Every one knows that there are beasts and birds 

 of prey, which man, generally speaking, hates very much, because of his own 

 innocent nature, and because he considers them as destructive. He calls 

 them vermin, — a name which is meant to imply something mean or bad* 

 But the truth is, that the reason why he destroys them, and calls them ver- 

 min, is just because he cannot eat them. If foxes were as good as turkeys, 

 and ravens as delicate as lambs, the fox, with all his cunning, instead of being 

 called vermin, would be called venison, and the croak of the raven would 

 be no longer regarded as a funeral note which it learned at the time of the 

 deluge. All our views of creation are tinged and distorted by our regarding 

 it only in relation to our own artificial and often vitiated demands. No 

 doubt ours is a very noble species, compared with others on the earth, but 

 it is extremely insignificant considered in relation to the universe ; and to 

 suppose that all nature is conformed to our convenience alone is too much. 

 We have a goodly share of the riches of the treasury of Providence, but we 

 must not perplex ourselves by supposing that every arrangement in creation 

 is made exclusively for ourselves. A material creation probably exists 

 chiefly for the contemplation and accommodation which it affords to intelli- 

 gent and sentient beings ; but as to ourselves, especially when we consider 

 our terrestrial circumstances, we ought to be very humble, and observe the 

 glorious creation around us as it is, and not try to twist every thing into 

 our own convenience, or stand perplexed as to the goodness of the Deity, 

 when we discover some arrangement which does not appear to minister to 

 our happiness." The means which Nature employs to restrain the diminu- 

 tive wheat-ear fly within due bounds, are the very same as she employs to 

 keep within bounds whales of 60 ft. long, viz. providing other species to prey 

 upon them. The law of mutual destruction pervades the whole animal, and 

 is found in the vegetable, creation. There are three other flies which seem 

 to depend upon the wheat flies for their subsistence. One of these, the 

 TTpula, or Cecidomyia, Mtici {Jig. 42. a), 

 hovers around the ear in the evening ; 

 while another very minute fly, the /chneu- ' 

 mon inserens (6), is found round the ear all 

 the day. These last flies appear of great 

 self-denial and curious fancy ; for they only 

 lay an egg beside an egg of the wheat fly, 

 which is hatched along with it, devours it, 

 and saves the wheat. The most abundant 

 species of these ichneumons, or flies of 

 prey, " positively lays its egg in the very 

 body of the yellow maggot, while it is 

 feeding busily. It has a long hollow rod, projected at pleasure from its 

 tail, which it thrusts into the body of the worm, and down which it then 

 sends one egg from its body, which egg is hatched within the body of the 

 maggot, and consumes it." 



Soil poisoned by Coal. — A Northumberland farmer finds a soil which had 

 been injured by coal, a seam being near the surface, and the land under- 

 mined for it, restored to its fertility by quicklime, at the rate of from 20 

 to 30 loads per acre. 



Vol. V. — No. 19. n 



