104 



ficulties in the way of its extirpation. It is impossi- 

 ble, for instance, to be aware of the presence of the 

 enemy within the fruit, until the mischief is actually 

 completed ; and, in like manner, the destruction of 

 the moth, from its small size, and its habit of secret- 

 ing itself in crevices of the bark, &c, is equally 

 impracticable. The gathering up of the worm-eaten 

 apples immediately after their fall, and before the 

 enclosed caterpillar has had time to make its escape, 

 cannot but be attended with good effect ; care, how- 

 ever, must be taken, either by bruising the apples, or 

 some other similar proceeding, to destroy the larva, 

 which would otherwise very speedily make their escape, 

 and so frustrate the pains taken for their destruction. 

 It has also been suggested, that, by burning weeds in 

 the garden or orchard at the time of the year when 

 the insect is ready to deposit its eggs, the moth will be 

 effectually driven away. (Gard. Mag. iv. 235, N.S.) 



The Apple-tree Mussel Scale, or Dry 

 Scale (Aspidiotus eonchiformis) . — Upon the trunks 

 and branches of apple and pear-trees there are found 

 two species of scale-insects, the former of which we 

 will now describe and figure. They are so small, and 

 partake so completely of the substance, colour, and 

 character of the bark, that an unpractised eye would 

 not suspect they were the production and habitation 

 of an insect ; and some allied species attached to the 



