142 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
pearance. The species so detrimental to apple-trees is the eriosoma 
mall because of its predilection for all the varieties of the common 
crab, cultivated and uncultivated. These insects seat themselves along 
the under sides of the branches, and under any prominent part of the 
bark, and appear to live on the juices of the tree, by puncturing the 
cuticle, which soon becomes exfoliated, deformed, and unhealthy. The 
insects quickly spread themselves over the whole tree, and if not pre¬ 
vented, eventually kill it. We have seen in the eastern corner of 
Hertfordshire, crab-tree hedges entirely destroyed by the woolly aphis. 
The young are exceedingly minute, so much so that we are convinced 
they can penetrate along the sap vessels of the bark ; for little nodules 
are formed, and covered with healthy bark at considerable distances 
from the parent’s station ; and on these being removed by the knife, 
the colonies are discovered forming a new abode, over which the bark 
bursts, and permits their irruption into the air, where they breed and 
assume their woolly habit, which seems to be a protection against 
rain. 
Dr. Leach’s description of the insect is :—snout bent under the 
breast; antennae short and thread-shaped; body covered with a soft 
down or wool. This covering, however, is not firmly attached to their 
bodies, like hair or feathers, as it may be brushed off with the slight¬ 
est touch; and one singular property is that of their juices or blood 
being coloured like cochineal, which indicates an alliance with the 
COCCIDAL 
The usual remedy for clearing an infected tree is by first dis¬ 
lodging the insects by a stiff brush; paring off all the rough and 
dead bark, especially where they have fixed themselves, and painting 
the whole trunk and branches with a wash made of hot lime and 
water. This is certain death to all, both old and young ; care being 
taken that every cleft and cranny be well filled with the lime. Any 
other unctuous application laid on with a hard brush would perhaps 
do equally well. Trees so doctored require looking to, lest any again 
make their appearance; which if they do the washing must be re- 
Mr. Rogers, in his excellent work on fruit-trees, recommends anoint¬ 
ing the trees with a wash composed of soft soap and warm soft water, 
applied with a painter’s bush, which he always found effectual if 
applied with care. This wash must necessarily be exceedingly an¬ 
noying to the insects, as preventing all their movements, even if it be 
not fatal to them at once. 
It has been said that this insect was introduced into England by a 
( soi-disant ) foreign nurseryman who lived in Sloane-street, Chelsea, 
