B L I 



B L I 



Steph. By7. to have derived its name from one of the com- 

 panions of Cadmus. 



BLIEGG, in Ichthyology, a name given by the Germans 

 to the rtdi we cal' tht blenk. Sec Bleak, and A lUiRNUs. 

 BLIESCASTF.L, in G.'ogrnphy, a town of Fr-ncc, mi 

 tlie department of Sarre, and chief place of a cantmi, i-i tiie 

 dillrlA of Sarrcbruck ; Cdntrininjr 12^8 inhabitants; the 

 popuiat'on of the canton inchtdts 10,084 perfons ; and the 

 territory has 30 commui.es. 



BLIESiVA Sai.ensi, a harbour on the coafl. of Lap- 

 land, between the river Kola and Kildnyn itland. 



BLIGH'S Cap, a name grivtn bv captain Cook, on ac- 

 count of its fhapc, to an ifl.ind in the fouthcrn Pacific 

 ocean, near Ker^uelen's land, before called by Kergiielan 

 *' the ifland of Rendezvous." It is a high round rock 

 accefPible only to birds. S. lat, 48° 29'. E. long. 68° 4 )'. 



BLIGHT, in jtgricuhure, a general name for various 

 diftempers incident to corn and fruit-trees. 



It affeits them varioiidy, the whole plant fometimesperlfli- 

 ing by it, and fometimes only the leaves and bloffoms, 

 which will be fcorched and flirivelled up, the re'l remaining 

 green and flourifhing. Some have fuppofed, that blights are 

 produced by eafterly winds, which bring vail quantities of 

 iiifefts' eggs along with them, from diftant places. Tliefe 

 being lodged upon the furface of the leaves and flo\Vers of 

 fruit-trees, caufe them to fhrivel up and perifh. 



Mr. Knight, however, ohferves, that blights are produced 

 by a variety of caufes ; by infects, by an excels of heat or 

 cold, of drought or moillure ; for thefe neccffanly derange 

 and dellroy the dehcate organization of the blo'ro-ns ; but 

 he believes the common opmion, that they arifc from fome 

 latent floxious quality in the air, or from lightning, to be 

 totally unfounded The term blight is very frequently ufed 

 by the gardener and farmer, he remarks, without any definite 

 idea being annexed to it. If the leaves of their trees be 

 eaten by the caterpillar, or contracted by the aphis ; if the 

 bloflbms fall from the ravages of infefls, or without any ap- 

 parent caufe, the trees are equally bhj^iited ; and if an call 

 wind happen to have blown, the infctls, or at lead their 

 eggs, whatever be their fize, are fuppoled to have been 

 brought by it. 



The true caufe of blights fecms to be, coTitinucd dry 

 eafterly winds for feveral days together, without the inter- 

 vention of fhowers, or any morning dew, by which the per- 

 fpiration in the tender bloffom is ftopped ; and if it fo hap- 

 pen that there is a long continuance of the fame weather, 

 it equally alTetts the tender leaves, whereby their colour is 

 changed, and they wither and decay. 



The bell remedy, perhaps, is gently to wafh and fprinkle 

 over the tree, &c. from time to time, with common water; 

 and if the young Ihoots fcem to be much infeftrd, let them be 

 wa(hcd with a woollen cloth, fo as to clear them, il poIFible, 

 from this glutinous matter, that their rcfpiration and per- 

 fpiration may not be obftruCled. This operation ought to be 

 performed early in the day, that the moiifure may be exhaled 

 before the cold of the night comes on : nor ihould it be 

 done when the fun (hines very hot. Mr. Forfyth recom- 

 mends their being waTied well with urine and foap-fuds, as 

 foon as poffible after the diftafe appears. 



Another caufe of bliglits in the fpring, is faid to be fharp, 

 hoary frolls, which aie often fucceeded by hot fup.-fhine in the 

 day-time. This is the mod fuddcn and certain deftroycr of 

 fruit that is known. The chief remedy to be depended upon 

 in this cafe is, that of proteclincr the fruit-trees durino- the 

 night-time *fith nets. This mode, where regularly and 

 corrcflly performed, has been found highly beneficial. 



3 



But, in order to cure this difeafe, fome have advifed the 

 burning of wet litter on the windward fide of the plaiitf, in 

 ordee that the fmoke of it may be carried to them by the 

 wind, which they fuppofe will ftifle and dellroy the in- 

 fctls, a-id thereby cure the mifchief. Others direCf the ufe 

 of tobacco-du'ft. or the wafliing of the trees with water in 

 v/hich tobacco-ftalks have been infufed for twelve hours, 

 which they fay will deftroy thofe infefts, and recover the 

 p'ii'.-ts. Pepper-dull, fcattered over the biolToms of fruit- 

 tiees. Sec. has been recommended as very ufetul in this cafe ; 

 and there are fome who advife the puUing off the leaves that 

 are affetled, 



Wnat is termed the blight is frequently, however, no 

 more than a debility, or diftemper in trees. Mr. Forfyth 

 oblcrves, that " this is the cafe when trees, againll the 

 fame wall, and enjoying the fame advantages in every re- 

 fpect, differ greatly in their health and vigour, the weak 

 ones appearing to be continually blighted, while the others 

 remain in a flourifhing condition. This very great dif- 

 ference, in fuch circumllances, can be attributed only to the 

 different conllitutions of the trees, proeeeding from want of 

 proper nourilhment, or from fome bad qualities in the foil ; 

 fome dillemper in the Rock, buds, or fcions ; or from fome 

 m'fmanagement in the pruning. Sec. ail of which are pro- 

 duftivc of diftempers in trees, of which they are, with diffi- 

 culty, cured. Ifthe fault be in the foil, it mull, he fays, be 

 dug out," and frefh mould put in its place ; or, the trees mud 

 be taken up, and others, better adapted to the foil, planted 

 in their room. It will be found abfolutely neceffary ah.vays to 

 endeavour to fuit the particular forts of fruit to the nature of 

 the foil ; for it is in vain to expeft all forts of fruit to be good 

 in the fame foil. If the weaknefs of the tree proceed from 

 an in-bred diftemper, it will be advifeable to remove it at 

 once, and after renewing the earth, to plant another in its 

 place." But if the weaknefs is brought on by ill manage- 

 ment in the pruning, which is frequently the cafe, he would 

 a Ivife more attention to the method of pruning and train- 



Bcfides this, " there is another fort of blight that fome- 

 times happens pretty late in the fpring, as in April or May, 

 which is very deflruftive to fruit-trees in orchards, and open 

 plantations, and againll whieh we know of no effectual re- 

 medy. This is what is called zjire-bhijl, which, in a few 

 hours, hath not only delboyed the fruit and leaves, but 

 often parts of trees ; and fometimes entire trees have been 

 kilkd by it." This, Mr. Forfyth obferves, " is generally 

 tliought to be occafioned by certain tranfparent flying va- 

 pours, which may fometimes take inch form, as to converote 

 the fun's rays in the manner of a burning-glafs, fo as to 

 Icorch the plants they fall upon ; and this, in a greater or 

 lefs degree, in proportion to their convergency. As this gene- 

 rally happens 111 clofe plantation;, whete the vapours from 

 the earth, and the perlpiration from the trecr, are pent in 

 for want of r free circulation of air to difperfe them, it 

 points out to us the only way, yet known, of guarding 

 againil this enemy to fruits ; namely, to make choice of a clear 

 liealthy fituation for kitchen-gardens, orcliards, &c. and to 

 plant the trees at fuch a diftance, as to give free admiffion 

 to the air, that it may difpel thofe vapours before they are 

 formed into fuch volumes as to occafion thefe 1 lalls." But 

 blalls may alfo be occafioned by the refleftion of the fun's 

 ruys from hollow clouds, whicli fometimes aft as burning 

 mirrors, and occafion exceffive heat. Againll this there is 

 no remedy yet difcovered. 



Mr. Marfiiall, in tlie Pv.ural Economy of midland counties, 

 obferves, that it is well known that this difeafe is moft m- 



jurious 



