180 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE, he, 



Indeed, I by no means approve of applying oil to trees upon 

 any account, as, by shutting up the pores, it is apt to render 

 them bark bound. 



Of Caterpillars, 



Caterpillars are very destructive to cabbages, and all the 

 brassica tribe, and frequently make depredations on trees, par- 

 ticularly the apricot. They should, therefore, be carefully 

 observed and picked off. A few years ago, Kensington Gar- 

 dens were very much infested with them ; but by carefully 

 picking and destroying them, and all the aurelia that could be 

 come at, very few are now to be seen. During the winter and 

 spring, every chrysalis that can be found under the copings of 

 walls, on gates, palings, &c. should be destroyed. Many may 

 also be found about the doors and windows of houses, under 

 the eaves, and in many other places. 



The best method of preventing trees from being infested 

 is to scrape the stems with a piece of bone or wood made in 

 the form of a knife, taking care not to bruise the bark ; and 

 afterwards to wash the tree and wall with an equal quantity of 

 eoap-suds and urine mixed. 



As soon as the leaves are off the trees in autumn, they 

 should be raked and swept up ; then carried to the melon 

 ground and mixed up with other leaves and dung for hot-beds ; 

 by this means you will get rid of a great number of eggs of in« 

 sects that are deposited on the underside of the leaves. Then 

 w^ash all the stems of the trees, and all the ends of the buds tak^ 

 ing care not to hurt the buds : In doing this, what falls will de- 

 stroy the slugs that take shelter on the off-set of the wall and in 

 the borders, before they are dug for planting lettuce, endive, 

 &c. This washing should be repeated about the beginning of 

 February, which will destroy any eggs of different insects 

 that may still remain about the trees. A painter's brush may 

 be used for laying the mixture on the trees, and a soft broom, 

 or a brush made of the ends of garden matting, for washing 

 the wall. The matting seems preferable, as, being soft and 

 flexible, it will enter the holes and crevices. 



The mixture that falls on the border and off-set of the wall, 

 in this second washing, will destroy those slugs and insects 



bour; besides, what falls on the borders will make a fine manure. The urine 

 and soap-suds should be saved in tubs in winter; and, as it will be too strong 

 for use in summer, it may be lowered by adding water. This mixture will also 

 be found effectual in killing slugs that harbour about the roots of the trees and 

 bottoms of the walls. When it soaks into the ground, the slugs will work 

 their way, and may easily be killed by throwing a little more of the mixture 

 on them from a watering-pot with a rose. 



