E. A. ORMEROD—PRETENTION OF INSECT-INJURY. 
7 
As examples of these effects of weather, it is stated by Schmid- 
berger that in 1816 the apple-buds were attacked for nearly three 
weeks, “ because the cold fog and rain checked the progress of the 
sap already in motion, and therefore the buds, which were already 
swollen out, were for several days prevented from unfolding, and 
scarcely a blossom was found that was not pierced.” That year 
there was no apple-crop. In 1817 the sap did not begin to flow 
until nearly the end of April, and on the 16th of May the apple- 
trees were in full flower; laying time was thus cut short and the 
blossom was beautiful. 
It is also mentioned by John Curtis that these little beetles 
sometimes occasion great loss to the grower, “ especially in cider 
counties in backward seasons,” and here it seems to me that we 
get to the point where the lesson learned from weather-influences 
may be applied. In our cider counties there are tracts beauti¬ 
fully managed, but also localities where, sometimes from neglect, 
sometimes from mis-applying the view that “trees bear best on 
their upper surface,” the orchards are so thickly planted that the 
trees meet, or grow into each other so completely that the top is 
nothing but surface, as far as flowers are concerned. Perhaps some of 
the members present may have stood on the chief mound of the old 
Roman Station of Caerwent, the Yenta Silurum of Antonine’s 
‘ Itinerary,’ about six miles from Chepstow, and looked down 
during the month of May on the surrounding orchards in what has 
been well described as “ a sea of blossom.” It is a sight of no com¬ 
mon beauty from above; but passing beneath this flood of bloom, 
I found, when I knew the locality, the precise state of things 
produced artificially which Curtis’ and Schmidberger’s observations 
show is congenial to the apple-weevil. Here, and in the many 
localities where trees are allowed to run up together so that direct 
sunshine, and also free play of air under the trees and amongst the 
boughs, is too much shut out, the buds on the lower branches in 
the shaded parts come on slowly, and thus lengthen out the blossom¬ 
ing-season during which they are available to the weevil for egg- 
laying. "We imitate the state of things produced by wet cloudy 
weather, whilst if the trees were kept in healthy progress in the 
sun and air, we should be much less at the mercy of the weevils, 
and also the army of apple-tree vermin such as American-blight 
aphis, scale-insect, and many others, which thrive, or are hidden 
from observation, and so get a-head in such spots. The effect of 
heavy rainfall after heat and drought in destroying some kinds of 
caterpillars has long been known, and whether this occurs from 
the external effect of the moisture or from causing a sudden flow 
of dilute sap unwholesome to the creature, does not as yet seem 
clear; but the same effect might be brought about to a serviceable 
amount at least in garden-cultivation. Other meteorological in¬ 
fluences may also be imitated. 
"Whatever good we may gain from the many different kinds of 
treatment which may be necessary for forestalling or keeping down 
insect-attack, one point is incontrovertibly of immense importance , 
