OF SELBORNE. 



for years past, was suddenly overspread 

 on all the woody branches with large 

 lumps of a white fibrous substance re- 

 sembling spiders webs, or rather raw 

 cotton. It was of a very clammy quality^ 



" sticking fast to every thing that touched 

 it, and capable of being spun into long 



" threads. At first I suspected it to be the 

 product of spiders, but could find none. 



" Nothing was to be seen connected with 

 lihwimdJiy hr own oval husky shells, which. 



" by no means looked like insects, but 

 rather resembled bits of the dry bark of 



" the vine. The tree had a plentiful crop 

 of grapes set, when this pest appeared 

 upon it ; but the fruit was manifestly 

 injured by this foul incumbrance. It 

 remained all the Summer, still increas- 

 ing, and loaded the woody and bearing 

 branches to a vast degree. I often pulled 

 off great quantities by handfuls ; but it 

 was so slimy and tenacious that it could 



" by no means be cleared. The grapes 



" never filled to their natural perfection, 



" but turned watery and vapid. Upon 

 H 2 



