INSECTS AND DISEASES. 335 



are generally strong enough to commit their 

 ravages by the time that the Peach and Nec- 

 tarine trees begin to shoot. The number of 

 them increases amazingly fast, almost beyond 

 credibility; this has been attributed to the 

 east winds, which it is supposed brings them, 

 because the east winds generally prevail a 

 great deal at the spring of the year. But 

 this is altogether a mistake, for it is asserted 

 by some writers, that one impregnation of 

 the male with the female extends to the 

 production of ten generations. 



At the end of the year a small black fly 

 may be observed removing in every direc- 

 tion about the trees, this fly is at this time 

 depositing its eggs in the trees. A hundred 

 of its eggs will lay in a very small compass^ 



To destroy their eggs is the best practice 

 that can be adopted to get rid of those insects. 

 This may be done by carefully applying the 

 composition in autumn, as directed for each 

 sort of tree. But if they be arrived at an 

 active state as seen in spring, immediate at- 

 tention must be paid to destroying them in 

 some other manner; for if they remain a 

 short time without molestation, they bite the 

 tender shoot and foliage so as to stop its 

 growth for a while, which if done at this 

 season, considerabty injures the wood from 

 which the fruit is expected next year ; 

 they also bite and injure the young fruit. 

 The best mode of destroying them in this 



