OF THE PINE-APPLE. 335 



for in the spring months they seem in a manner 

 to swarm upon most sorts of trees, shrubs, and 

 plants ; and even in most soils the very grass of 

 the field abounds with them ; for which reason 

 they are generally termed the lice of the plants 

 which they respectively infest. 



The rose and peach-trees are very subject to 

 be over-run with these insects ; and if no means are 

 used to extirpate them, they will, in a short time, 

 take such entire possession of the plants, that every 

 part of the young wood will appear to be covered 

 with them : they not only cause a stagnation of 

 the juices, but also rob the plants of their nutri- 

 ment, thereby reducing them to a weak state. 



The leaves of the peach-tree, in particular, are 

 often observed to be curled up, and covered with a 

 sweet clammy substance, which is solely owing to 

 the quantity of these insects which settle upon 

 them. Besides, many kinds of flowers and exotic 

 plants which are kept in stoves are very subject to 

 be infested with them. 



The Aphides are easily destroyed three ways : 

 1. By fumigating the house, in which the plants 

 are kept, with tobacco. 2. By dressing the in- 



The insects belonging to this singular genus, in the summer 

 bring forth live young, and in the autumn lay eggs. Entomo- 

 logists assert, that from the copulation of the parents spring 

 daughters, grand-daughters, great-grand-daughters, and great- 

 great-grand-daughters, or females fecundated to the fifth 

 (some assert to the ninth) generation. 



