INSECTS* 



119 



of tobacco, &c. But whatever application may be 

 used, taking the insect in time, that is at the 

 moment it first appears, will be found the most 

 effectual, and a great saving of time. As this plague 

 is related to the cochineal insect, its blood is almost 

 as strong a dye, and will discolour the linen of the 

 workmen if allowed to fall thereon. 



Aphis, or common Green Fly, This is one of the 

 most numerous and common insects, found on many 

 different plants as well as fruit trees ; but on the 

 apple least of all. On plums, cherries, &c., they 

 are often hurtful, as well in checking the growth, as in 

 soiling the leaves and fruit w^ith honey-dew which 

 they exude. These insects are easily killed or ba- 

 nished by fumigations of tobacco smoke, wherever it 

 can be applied. 



Caterpillars, — Of these there are many different 

 kinds, which prey either on the buds, the leaves, 

 flowers, or fruit of the apple tree. They are mostly 

 the larva of moths, the eggs of which are laid in the 

 crevices of the bark or round the buds in the autumn 

 or spring, and on the approach of warm weather are 

 hatched, eat their way into the buds, and often 

 devour both leaves and flowers. Sometimes the 

 whole of the foliage is destroyed by the caterpillars of 

 a very small moth {Ti?iea patella) , which come forth 

 ill such myriads as to eat every leaf off whitethorn 

 hedges, as well as those of the apple in sheltered 

 places. There is no way of keeping trees free from 

 these winged insects, unless wc could wash or sprinkle 

 the whole tree in the autumn with some liquid that 



