101 
dissolved in the earth, is intended to circulate 
with the sap or juice over the tree, and from the 
Smother Fly, (meaning', I suppose, the Aphis) 
feeding upon the sap thus blended with salt, is 
thereby destroyed. Certainly it must be errone- 
ous to suppose that so small a quantity of salt, 
or salt water, mixed with so great a portion of 
earth as compose the borders suitable for those 
trees, should have the least tendency to destroy 
those insects while drawing out the sap from them, 
of which salt must only constitute a very smalt 
portion ; and we find the salt water, directed to 
be brushed on the tree, will not destroy them, 
which is far more likely than the plan just men- 
tioned, for it is almost impossible for them to 
escape, receiving it both outwardly and inwardly, 
if they feed at all after the application. At any 
rate, as the salt water proves so injurious to the 
leaves, no doubt can exist of its being far the best 
plan to abstain from using it. 
The fruit is much annoyed by various insects 
about the time of ripening. First of all by the 
Wood-Louse ( Oniscus), a well-known insect, 
which is commonly found lodging among decayed 
wood, in bark pits, under old walls, &c., and at 
the time above-mentioned commits great depreda- 
tions. One species, which appears lurking most 
about those trees, is flatter than the other species, 
and of a dark grey and buff’ colour mingled toge- 
ther. It is also more active, and not quite so 
shelly as the other one. The one most common is 
