MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, Sb» k 65 



fide, that you might rub the bark off them as eafily as off a 

 bundle of faggot-flicks that had been cut upwards of a year ; 

 yet thefe trees have lhot out frefh branches to the length of 

 feventeen feet in two years, and produced fine fruit the fecond 

 year. Apply the Compofition immediately after heading, or 

 cutting, or paring off the difeafed bark. 



A very deftructive fpecies of the coccus tribe has lately 

 done incredible damage to the Apple-trees in the nurferies 

 and gardens in the neighbourhood of London. Some Nur- 

 ferymen have loft feveral thoufand Apple-trees in one yean 

 Thefe infefts attach themfelves to the bark by their fuckers, 

 and, by feeding on the juices of the tree, rob it of its nourinV 

 ment. Such trees as are infefted with them have a fickly ap- 

 pearance. I am happy, however, in being able to fay, that I 

 have nearly extirpated them from his Majefty's gardens at 

 Kenfington : but, as our neighbours do not pay the fame 

 attention to their trees as we do to ours, the infe&s frequently 

 emigrate to us; this obliges me to be very attentive to their 

 nrft appearance ; and, as I take the earlieft opportunity, of 

 deftroying them, the trees fuffer very little from their depre- 

 tions. 



Thefe infects make their nefts generally where branches 

 have been cut off, or in hollow places, where the canker , has 

 eaten holes in the trees. Their firft appearance is like a 

 white down ; on touching, or rubbing them, they tinge the 

 fingers of a crimfon colour, like cochineal. If fuffered to 

 remain long on trees, they take wing, like aphides. The 

 method that 1 have followed for thefe ten years to deftroy 

 them is as follows : 



I rub the places where their nefts are with an old brufh., 

 iuch as painters ufe, till they are all cleaned off; and if the - 



M m part 



