MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 187 



or three quarters full, then place some of them at the bottom 

 of the wall and hang a sufficient number up by a piece of yel- 

 low willow or pack-thread on the nails against the walls in dif- 

 ferent places, observing to empty them frequently, as they fill 

 with flies and wasps ; first pour the liquor into an empty bottle, 

 and then shake out the dead insects, crushing them with your 

 foot, that none of them may revive : then pour back the liquor 

 into the bottles and phials, as at first. In this manner you may 

 destroy a great many before the fruit becomes ripe. If you 

 begin to hang up the bottles as soon as you see the fly, which 

 comes much earlier than the wasp, you will be able to destroy 

 great numbers of them, and will have the bottles ready for the 

 v/asps when they, make their appearance. The fly will be found 

 as destructive as the wasp to grapes. 



When the weather is hot, and the wasps are num.erous, if 

 they do not enter the bottles fast enough (which will happen 

 when the fruit is very ripe), take a little oil in a cup, and with 

 a feather dipped in it touch their backs, and they will instantly 

 drop down : On observing, you will find them turned black and 

 green by the effects of the oil^. It is amazing what numbers 

 a diligent person can destroy in this v/ay in a day. Oil has the 

 s;une effect on flies; bat it is very difficult to touch them with 

 it as they are so quick in their motions. 



Of Birds, 



When fruit begins to ripen, birds will attack it. The best 

 preventive in this case is, to cover the trees with nets, or bun- 

 tine, a sort of cloth of which ships colours are made. These 

 will admit a free circulation of air to the fruit, and will soon 

 dry after rain : The}^ will also be a good covering for the trees 

 in spring, in cold, wet, or snowy weather. 



Rats and Mice. 



These vermin do a great deal of mischief in gardens, in 

 sheds, and other places, where the}' frequently destroy great 

 quantities of beans, pease, and other seeds ; it is, therefore, 

 the interest of every gardener to kill as many of them as pos- 

 sible. 



There are different ways of destroying them, by traps, 

 and by poison ; but I would advise never to use arsenic, or 

 corrosive sublimate, for that purpose, except under particular 

 circumstances, as they are deadly poison : Nux vomica will 

 generally answer the end as well, without the danger. In case 



* Oil kills insects by closing up the lateral pores by which they breathe. 



