MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. I8i 



that made their appearance early. The stems and branches 

 of the trees may be washed two or three times, or oftener, in 

 the spring, before the buds begin to swell ; but the branches 

 must not be rubbed after the trees come into flow^er ; you 

 may, however, sprinkle them over with the mixture from a 

 watering-pot with arose just before the buds begin to open, 

 but by no means after they are open ; as it will, by its glutm- 

 ous nature, render the bloom liable to be scorched by the 

 sun. 



I would recommend the above washings, &:c. for all trees, 

 standards as well as those on walls ; particularly apple, cherry, 

 and plum-trees. 



If any caterpillars should remain, they will be discover- 

 ed by the curling of the leaves ; for every curled leaf has one 

 or more caterpillars, or other insects, in it ; they should there- 

 fore be carefully pulled oft^, and the insects crashed : If neg- 

 lected, they will frequently devour every leaf, leaving the 

 tree quite naked, and of course destroy the fruit for that 

 season. 



There are some gregarious sorts of caterpillars found in 

 great numbers enclosed in a net, or bag, resembling a strong 

 cobweb, and fixed to the branches of trees and shrubs. I'hese 

 nests should be carefully picked off, and the insects crushed, 

 by which vast numbers of them will be destroyed. After you 

 have cleared the tree as well as you possibly can, wash it as 

 above directed, which will destroy those stragglers that may 

 still remain on it. 



Observe, that after the trees come into flower, instead 

 of washing them with urine and soap-suds, they should be 

 well watered with clear lime-water, mixed with tobacco-water. 



There are several species of moths that in the caterpillar 

 state are very hurtful to plums and other fruitftrees : It will, 

 therefore, be a great advantage to destroy them on their first 

 appearance. ^ 



It would be of great service to get acquainted as much as 

 possible with the economy and natural history of all these in- 

 sects, as we might thereby be enabled to find out the most cer- 

 tain method of destroying them* W ere a few of each sort 

 of caterpillars put in a box or case, and fed with leaves of such 

 trees as they generally live upon, they might be observed from 

 time to time until they came to the chrysalis, and from that to 

 the moth or butterfly state, and thus a more perfect knowledge 

 of them might be obtained. 



9b 



