Treatise on the culture &c. i69 



Of the Honeydew. 



The honeydew is a sweet saccharine substance found on 

 ihe leaves of certain trees, and is generally supposed to fall 

 from Heaven like dew, but this is a mistaken opinion. One 

 kind of honeydew transpires from the leaves of the trees where 

 it is found, and the other is the excrement of a small insect 

 called a vine fretter, a species of aphis. Bees and ants are very 

 fond of both these kinds of honeydew. 



As the honeydew by its viscous quality, closes up the 

 pores, and stops the perspiration of trees, it must of course be 

 very hurtful to them. This disease should be treated in the 

 earne manner as the mildew ; but as has been already observed, 

 trees should be watered, or washed, early enough in the day to 

 get dry before the cold of the night comes on ; nor should it be 

 done while the sun shines very hot, which would be likely to 

 scorch the blossoms and leaves. 



Of Blights, 



Blights are very destructive to fruit-trees, sometimes de- 

 stroying the whole tree ; but more frequently the leaves and 

 blossoms, while the tree itself remains unhurt. 



One cause of the blight is, the continuance of a dry East- 

 erly wind for several days together, which stops the perspira- 

 tion in the tender blossom ; and a long continuance of the same 

 weather equally aifects the tender leaves, causing them to wi- 

 ther and decay, the perspiring matter is thereby rendered thick 

 and glutinous, and so becomes food for those small insects 

 which are always found in vast numbers on fruit-trees that are 

 affected by this sort of blight. 



These insects, however, are not the original cause as some 

 imagine, but the natural consequence of blights ; for wherever 

 they meet with such a proper nutriment they multiply amazing- 

 ly, and greatly promote the distemper when no method is taken 

 to prevent it. 



The best remedy for this distemper that I know of is, to 

 wash them with urine and soap-suds, as before directed ; and 

 the sooner this is performed, whenever we apprehend danger, 

 the better ; if the young and tender shoots seem to be much 

 infected, wash them with a woollen cloth dipped in the same 

 liquid that is recommended for the mildew. 



Another cause of blights in the spring will be found in 

 sharp hoary frosts, which are often succeeded by hot sun-shine 

 in the day time ; these are certain and sudden destruction to 

 the fruit. Sharp pinching frosty mornings, which often happen 

 when the trees are in flower, or while the fruit is very young, 



