4 



72 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. and become yellow at the fall, do commonly clothe it all the winter, 



the roots growing very deep and straggling. The author of Britannia 

 Baconica speaks of an Oak in Lanhadron-Park in Cornwall, which bears 

 constantly leaves speckled with white, and of another called the Painted 



such parts as are not quite hid by this soft garment, many bright specks are perceived of a 

 golden colour, as well as stripes running across tiie body from one place to anotlier. At the 

 second stage, in April, its growth is completed, when it becomes round, resembling a pea 

 in shape. It has then acquired more strength, and its down is changed into dust, and seems 

 to be nothing but a husk or capsule, full of a reddish juice, not unlike discoloured blood. 

 Its third state is towards the end of May, a little sooner or later, according to the warmth of 

 the climate. The husk appears full of small eggs, less than the seeds of a poppy. They are 

 properly ranged under the belly of the insect progressively placed in the nest of down that 

 • covers its body, which it withdraws in proportion to the number of eggs : after this work is 

 performed, it soon dies, though it still adheres to its position, rendering a further service to 

 its progeny, and shielding them from the inclemency of the weather, or the hostile attacks 

 ■ of an enemy. In a good season they multiply exceedingly, having from 1800 to 2000 eggs, 

 which produce the same number of animalcules. When observed by the microscope in 

 July or August, that which appeared as dust, are so many eggs or open capsules, as white 

 as snow, out of which issues a gold coloured animalcule, of the shape of a cockroach, with 

 two horns, six feet, and a forked tail. In Languedoc and Provence the poor are employed 

 to gather the Kermes, the women letting their nails grow for that purpose, in order to pick 

 them off with greater facility. The custom of lopping off the boughs is very injudicious, as 

 by that means the next year's harvest is destroyed. Some women will gather two or three 

 pounds a day; the great point being to know where they are most likely to be found in any 

 quantity, and to gather them early with the morning dew, as the leaves are more pliable 

 and tender at that time than after they have been dried and parched by the rays of 

 the sun. Strong dews will make them fall from the trees sooner than usual. When the 

 proper season passes, they fall off of themselves, and become food for birds, particularly 

 pigeons. Sometimes there will be a second production, which is commonly of a less size 

 with a fainter tinge. The first is generally found adhering to the bark, as well as on the 

 branches and stalks ; the second is principally on the leaves, as the worms choose that part 

 where the nutritious juice preserves itself the longest, is most abundant, and can be most 

 easily devoured in the short time that remains of their existence, the bark being then drier and 

 harder than the leaves. 



Those who buy the Kermes to send to foreign parts, spread it on linen, taking care to sprinkle 

 it with vinegar, to kill the worms that are within, which produces a red dust, which in Spain 

 is separated from the husk. Then -they let it dry, passing it through a searce, and make it 

 up into bags. In the middle of each, its proportion of red dust is put into a little leather bag, 

 and belongs to the buyer; it is then ready for transportation, being always in demand 

 on the African coast. The people of Hinojos, Bonares, Villalba, and other parts of the 

 kingdom of Seville, dry it on mats in the sun, stirring it about, and separating the red dust. 



