240 



PREFACE TO THE 



ingenious and learned friend, the Rev. Mr. Micheli, 

 who enabled me to give a better descriptive and 

 historical account of these insects, than I otherwise 

 could have done without his kind and friendly as- 

 sistance. 



Very many methods have been taken to extirpate 

 these insects, most of which, on trial, have been 

 found ineffectual ; or, what is more unfortunate, 

 have in a manner destroyed thcplant itself. 



It is no uncommon idea that there are methods 

 of keeping the insects down, so as to prevent their 

 doing any material injury : but it is well known 

 to every one conversant with their manner of 

 breeding, that their increase in the summer months 

 is exceedingly rapid, and that there are few methods 

 used to expel them that do not injure the plants in 

 a greater or lesser [degree : therefore constant and 

 repeated applications, for the purpose of destroying 

 the insects, must necessarily be a continual check 

 to the growth of the plants. These circumstances 

 point out the necessity of a never-failing remedy ; 

 and such I am warranted, by experience, to offer 

 to the public. 



It became my indispensable duty to lay down, 

 with the most exact precision, the method I prac- 

 tised in destroying these insects : and that I have 

 done with truth and sincerity. The few cautionary 

 remarks, that are enclosed between [crotchets] may 

 be used or omitted at the option of the person who 



