2.46 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book Vif. 
whilft the infested, being «made more ‘foft and tender by the Rain, be- 
comes eafier to be pierced iby the devouring Worms. At fuch and other 
times, there are often feen, on the Blades of fuch fickly Canes, many 
small protuberant Knobs, of a foft downy Subftance, often containing 
in them fmall white Maggots, which, I believe, turn afterwards into 
{mall brownifh Moths, which are to be feen in great Multitudes among 
the Blades of infeéted Canes. It is likewife obfervable, that fuch Blades 
will be full of brownith decaying Spots: Thefe are fo many Places, which 
have been deeper pierced by the Worms. 
Multitudes of Ants are likewife feen on the blafted Canes; thefe are 
invited hither to fuck the Juice that oufes out of the wounded Leaves, 
efpecially when the Plant hath attained any Degree of * Sweetnels. This 
appears by: the Clamminefs, that, at fuch times, covers the Leaves, prevent: 
ing all Perfpiration. In this lacerated Condition of the Plant, the Juices 
want their natural free progreflive Motion upwards ; the moft fubtile 
and fineft Part. burfting through the wounded Leaves, whilft the more 
grofs returns back unfecreted to the radical Veflels. By this means they 
are overloaded, and, burfting, fupply the Ants at the Roots with anourifh- 
ing Liquid. In this injured Condition the Roots become incapable of 
fupplying the Stalk or Leaves with Nourifhment from the Earth, if the 
latter fhould ever recover. ; ‘ 
- The Blaft is obferyed to be moft frequent in very dry Years, there having 
been but little of it when feafonable Rains have begun early, and. conti- 
nued till the Canes were ripe. In fuch Years, a great many of thefe Vers 
min are. perhaps drowned by the heavy Rains, as well as their Eegs 
made lefs prolific. i 56 
It is obfervable, that the Blaft ufually appears fucceflively, in: the fame 
Fields, and often in the very fame Spot of Land : It is therefore very 
likely, that thefe are but the fucceffive Offspring of Parent-Egos, from, 
time to time depofited there by the  fmall brown Moths. above-men- 
tioned. And when the Blaft is found in Fields. of Canes, far frony in- 
fedted Places, we may, in all Probability, conclude, that the Egos were 
conveyed thither by the Wind. . What makes this more evident. is, that 
the Infection always f{preads fafter to. the Leeward, or with the Wind. 
Tt is remarkable, that if Canes have been once: infeged with the 
Blaft, although they afterwards, to, alt Appearance, feem. to. recover; yet 
the Juice of fuch Canes will neither afford fo. much, Sugar; nor fo good 
of its Kind, as if obtained from. Canes that were never infeed: I con 
ceive that, in this Cafe, the delicate Strainers, adapted to fecrete: thie 
Particles, which conftitute. the Sugar, have been fo; much, injured, as not’ 
to be in a Condition. to. perform their Officesto. Perfedtion, although | 
fufficient to faftain the Plant alive, and ina feeming Vigour. 
*. Perhaps the Attendance of. the Ants may, praceed from, two, Gaufes: They maybe invited, as above 
’ mentioned, when. the Canes have attained fome Degree of Maturity i the {weet Juice, which oufes out 
a Pr tee as. maybe perceived by the Clamminefs of the: Blades; or, “if this is:not- the Cafe, 
waen te 4 lant is very) young, they, may perhaps be, allured to prey, upon’ the dead. and livine Bodies: of 
thefe little Animals in acne the Cae i PARE At Prey, upan the dead.and living, Bodies’ 9 
2 Should 
