192 Major on Insects prevalent in Orchards and Gardens. 



Major, Mr. Joshua, Landscape-Gardener : A Treatise on the Insects most 

 prevalent on Fruit Trees, and Garden Produce, giving an Account of the 

 States they pass through, the Depredations they commit, and Recipes for 

 their Destruction, including the Recipes of various Authors, with Remarks 

 on their Utility; also, a few Hints on the Causes and Treatment of 

 Mildew and Canker on Fruit Trees, Cucumbers, &c. &c. London and 

 Leeds. 8vo. 10^. 6d. 



Notwithstanding that so many have already'written on this subject, Mr. 

 Major feels himself justified in adding to the number, because " some 



branches are not yet fully understood He has for several years devoted 



himself carefully to the observation of the habits and history of those 

 animals, and has tried a great number of experiments for their destruction, 

 the result of which he now lays before the public. He has thought it ne- 

 cessary to give a description of the appearance and habits of the different 

 insects to be destroyed, as well as a short history of their different changes 

 and processes, that every one may be able to detect them, and may un- 

 derstand at what times the recipes can be applied with effect, and when, 

 from the state of the insect, they and all other remedies will be quite 

 useless — a point of great importance, but one which has been hitherto 

 altogether neglected. If the recipes are found to be effectual, he will have 

 effected all that he intended." 



The subject is treated in a practical and popular manner, a section or 

 article being devoted to each of the principal fruit trees and culinary vege- 

 tables, the insects which infest each enumerated, and the modes of pre- 

 vention or destruction described by various authors given and remarked on. 

 The author does not appear to be a scientific entomologist (e. g. Beetles, 

 p. 218.), and the book is wanting in the interest which it might have had by 

 giving the natural history of the insects and some of their related species, 

 and that of the natural checks to them, whether insects or birds, or other 

 animals. But though it is not what we think it might have been, it is still 

 a most useful work, and being the only book devoted exclusively to garden 

 insects, and written by a gardener, we hope it will find its way into every 

 garden library. 



The following on shreds for fastening wall trees is good. " It is preferable 

 to use shreds of cloth to any other mode that is practised for training trees, 

 as they form harbours for insects, through the winter, and afford a good op- 

 portunity for the insects and eggs of insects to be removed with the shreds, 

 and destroyed with boiling water." 



Groivth and Preparation of Tobacco. — Sow in a hot-bed about the middle 

 of March, transplant in small pots, and shift two or three times till the 

 latter end of April. Transplant in a sheltered situation on light rich soil, at 

 2 ft. apart everj' way. In autumn, when the lowest leaves are beginning to 

 assume a yellowish hue, take them off, tie them in bundles of half a dozen, 

 and hang them up to dry; in a fortnight a second gathering will be ready : 

 when all the gatherings are dried, pack them together straight and close 

 " so as to produce perspiration, like what is necessary for new hay. . . . If a 

 sufficient quantity cannot be got at one time to produce perspiration of 

 itself, it may be greatly aided by packing it in a box, closing it up, and then 

 covering overhead the whole box in a heap of weeds, grass, or manure that 

 is in a gentle heat ; after sweating a week or ten days, it may be kept in a 

 moderately dry situation, so as to prevent its moulding." 



Tobacco Water. — " It will require not less than a pound of the leaves 

 to a gallon of water to make good tobacco water, and in order to obtain 

 the whole of the virtue of the tobacco, it will be proper to let the water 

 be poured over the leaves in a boiling state. The liquid may remain 

 covered up a few hours, or till wanted for use. Before it is used the 

 leaves must be taken out, taking care to have the whole water squeezed 



