\_From the 1 Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History 
Society,’ Vol. II, Part 1, August, 1882.] 
ON METHODS OF PREVENTION OF INSECT-INJURY. 
By Eleanor A. Ormerod, E.M.S. 
. w ■ 
Amongst the various methods by which the attacks of injurious 
insects to our crops may be prevented or remedied, none are so sure 
as those that are based on natural principles, together with broad 
measures of cultivation, that is to say, on taking advantage of such 
peculiarities in the habits of the so-called pests as may afford points 
at which they are open to attack; and secondly, though in a lesser 
degree, we may utilize peculiarities in their nature which are 
affected by meteorological influence, or, in other words, by the 
weather. It is frequently remarked that “we cannot alter the 
weather,”—but this is not quite the case, for drainage and irriga¬ 
tion on a large scale have effect on atmospheric conditions, and 
may be brought also to bear as means of prevention of attack of 
serviceable practical use to the field crops, much more than they 
are at present. We also find that by observing the way in which 
continued sunshine and drought, or on the other hand long wet 
weather, or sudden and violent rainfall in a dry season, affect 
various kinds of insects most destructive to our crops, we may 
follow the lesson up practically by artificial means to our own 
great advantage. 
Similarly amongst our forest or orchard trees, although we can¬ 
not have sunshine at command, we may often expose a much larger 
surface to its influence, and thus act at once on a broad scale on 
some of the injurious insects with much more effect and less cost 
than by any local applications, such as dressings, washings, or 
other remedies. 
