By Sir Owald Mosley, Bart. 59 



ness of linseed oil, I was induced to dress several trees with 

 that, instead of train oil ; but I found, to my disappointment, 

 that the application of the former was not equally efficacious. 

 Where the rugged edges of the old bark project over the 

 parts infested by the insects, it may be necessary to pare it 

 off, with a sharp knife, previously to the application of the oil ; 

 otherwise the brush might fail of reaching their most secret 

 recesses. 



Even after this application, however, the patient labours of 

 the horticulturist may frequently be frustrated, and the same 

 tree be found, in other parts, subject to the reiterated attacks 

 of these insects, in the succeeding year. Nothing but the 

 most accurate attention can exterminate this pest, when once 

 it has been suffered to increase, by temporary neglect. 

 Numbers of the insects will be washed off by heavy rains, 

 and will crawl along the ground to the roots of the tree, 

 where they will again commence their destructive operations, 

 either by attacking the tender fibres, or by re-ascending the 

 trunk, in search of a more convenient station. Perhaps the 

 most effectual remedy, against this recurrence of their attacks, 

 would be, to expose the upper part of the roots to the winter's 

 frosts, and to apply to them, early in the spring, a mixture of 

 night soil and lime, at the time they are again covered over 

 with mould. But it will be left for experience to ascertain 

 how far this, or any similar proceeding, that is attempted, 

 may be conducive, or prejudicial, to the general health of 

 the tree. 



Since the above observations were made, I have received a 

 communication, on this subject, from an intelligent corres- 



