the difference of the vegetative energy of the three structures, and the high cultivation bestowed in bringing out a double flower.

Thus for example, to obtain a double flower, high cultivation changes the stamens into petals, still higher changes the entire organs of the flower into petals; it then becomes what is termed a double, flower and from that cultivation insects are not seen; relax the cultivation, the plant becomes again single and the insects may appear. Thus a single rose plant, surrounded with doubles, will be covered with insects, and the double perfectly free. I allude to the stock; the same circumstances may be noticed in the wall flower and many other plants. I consider these examples will go far in proving that insects are to be destroyed and prevented by cultivation. It is the practice in raising plants for the flower garden, by cuttings, by layers, or by seeds, to be two or three times transplanted before final planting, and where pots are to be obtained, to have them potted. The practice will appear judicious when we consider the purposes aimed at. It often happens, that a plant is required to have its locality changed, and by having it transplanted, which we are enabled to do without danger of its dying, we have fibrous roots instead of tap roots.

Fibrous roots act more freely, and quickly recover from the exhaustion consequent on removal, while on the other hand a plant having its roots to form before the sap elaborates, looses its acidity, becomes sweet and immediately infested with insects.

It is often found in practice, that some plants will not flower under the ordinary treatment, particularly tropical plants. And when bending and twisting the branches, or cutting the roots will not bring on flowering, the general method used, is to check the growth of the plant, by impoverishing the soil, and to keep it under that treatment, till estivation does appear.

If the insects are in the neighborhood they will be on the plant, but as soon as the plant is returned to its former treatment and recovers from its exhaustion the insects will leave it. It appears to me highly important in keeping a flower garden free from insects, to have the plants transplanted before final planting, and to have the soil flat-hoed. I believe it can safely be predicted by such management here as in other countries, insects will be kept from being very troublesome in flower

gardens. I will now enter into the practice of the nursery depart ment. That portion of it which is devoted to the sowing of seeds and their first year's growth of see lings

The insects which formerly were so destructive to nurseries in former times, also submitted to the same management, as was found so well to answer in the kitchen garden. This insect is called the Black Bot, in the common language of trades. These insects are never seen above ground, and only work in the night. They retire during the day deep into the soil. They bite off the young plant at its collar, and draw the tops into their holes. Nurserymen in the neighborhood of pasture land could not raise seedlings; but were compelled to purchase them from nurseries freer from them; such as light, sandy soil; thus loosing a very profitable part of the business.

The following means were used and were found perfectly successful. The land intended to be used for seedlings, was first green cropped, the hoe liberally used and kept free from weeds, and thrown sharp and well hollowed, furrowed by the spade, during the autumn and winter months, and in sowing in the spring the seeds, and ultimately been cleared away.

Some years ago, a great difficulty was experienced in Great Britain in keeping lawns free from the working of worms, which gave to the grass an unsightly appearance. Lime water was used with some success, its application was attended with too much labor. The brush, harrow, and roller, answered the purpose much better. Their use not only kept the grass clean, but it was discovered it brushed up the larvæ of insects, which soon would have found their way into cultivated land. It gave a hint to the farmers in the management of their pasture lands; at present, they are used on all grass lands, producing important results in invigorating the grass, and keeping it free from the lodgements of insects.

I have gone through the several departments of horticulture, giving general illustrations of means used in clearing of insects, all leading to one specific principle, namely, cultivation; and though some insects might appear not included in the rule, I do not conceive there can be an exception.

I allude to the insects that infest the hop, and the one that injures

the bean. They confessedly are insects which the best husbandry has not reached. We find their appearance is consequent on wet seasons; in the average seasons no injury is sustained. The causes I conceive are these; the plants subject to vicissitudes, brought on by variable and chilly seasons, lose their full condition, and become predisposed to routine attacks, and the impracticability of working the land, favors their increase. Again the fly in turnips may be considered not controlable by cultivation.

Cropping is a remedy. No gardner or farmer would sow turnips after any green crop.

Phosphate of lime however is used with eminent success. I have in the above observations confined my remarks to the several departments of gardening, as the operations carried on there seems to me more tangible, and would enable us with some certainty to deduce inferences, from which a practice might open out if not to the wishes of the society, at least ameliorate the evils complained of. The best cultivation that lands devoted to agriculture can receive, compared to what can be devoted to horticulture, must of necessity be in favor of the latter, and from that circumstance, many difficulties in regard to insects, more accessible in the garden than in the field. Yet on the other hand, we find the insects of the field less persistent, and the ganera more limited, than in the garden, and if the garden can be kept clear, and I have attempted to show the possibility reasonable, hopes may be indulged that it is as possible in the field.

In the first few years of the colony of S. Australia a small martis cleared every thing before it, scarcely a vestige of vegetation was left above ground. Those who have never seen, can have but a meagre idea of their quantity by comparing them in numbers to the Locusts of Egypt. As cultivation went on, the plow and tormentor destroyed their nurseries; and at the present time, if they were not fully exterminated, they are only partially felt. In bringing the practice that has been so successful in clearing away insects from the garden to bear upon the cultivation of the two staple crops of these islands; the coffee and the sugar cane, I feel it necessary to explain briefly, what I mean by cultivation. I conceive a plant to be under cultivation, when its organic structure is perfect; and to surround the plant

with the requisite conditions to reach its maximum development, the art of cultivation.

Mr. Rhodes, in his able paper on the coffee tree, states he might recommend the sowing of a coffee plantation, if the insects did not prevent him. I do not call that cultivation. I believe it is impossible to surround the plant afterwards, with its maximum condition; it is the plant still in a wild state, without the essential properties which cultivation gives. Mr. Rhodes dwarfs his plants by the knife, but the roots ought to do it. The gormandizers are to come off by the same means. Surely that is not cultivation. That is simply trimming your plant, lest the strong shoots should underdrop the weaker ones. The structure of the plant is still the same; its tendencies are not changed; the maximum developement the plant reaches is still the condition of the wild plant; it is not the condition of an organic structure resulting from cultivation. Mr. Rhodes recommends suckers to be planted, as they will be too far advanced to be in danger of insects. I doubt much the judiciousness of planting a spurious production such as a sucker, seeing it is a formation resulting independent of the proper organs of the plant.

Thus time must be lost in bringing cultivation to bear upon it, and at all times will be disposed to throw up similar spurious productions. The best method appears to me to get up a coffee plantation without the fear of insects, is to have your plants three or four times transplanted; but a much better plan is to have the plantation formed from cuttings, as is practiced in the Brazils. The structure of the plant is already formed in the cutting, and there is little danger of running wild. But without entering into the reasons of either method, let it be sufficient to say, by transplanting you bring the plant to the organization of a cutting, though much time is lost in sowing the seed, you can never reach it, and never perfectly obtain it from a seedling. The following numbers will show the value of transplanted plants over a seedling. We take five as the seedling which will be its commercial value; once transplanted seven and one half, twice transplanted fifteen, three times transplanted forty-two, which is the valuation, independent of size or age, but more to the purpose. The ground being prepared after Mr. Rhodes's method, as soon as the functions of the colydelons have ceased, prick them out two inches apart, allowing six inches be

tween the rows; if the land is not adhesive add lime. When the fibrous structure has commenced which will be in about eighteen days, transplant them four inches apart and eight inches between the rows, water the night before. In three or four weeks the fibrous structure will be confirmed. In taking them up a third time a small spade or gardener's trowel may be used. In transplanting a third time, plant six inches apart and eight inches between rows. In six weeks if a little spade is used, they will be ready for planting, and if care is used in preserving the balls of earth, no deaths will occur particularly if you watch, and they will be too far advanced to be in danger of insects. By such a practice you will have brought the plant out of its wild

state.

You have a cultivated plant to cultivate, and in proportion to the facilities you afford to the plant by cultivation will be its maximum development.

In the observation which I have to offer upon the sugar cane, I do not feel myself empirically confident, and tho' this paper set out ostensibly suggestive of means to be used for the destruction of insects, it turns out rather means suggestive to be used as preventatives, and as cultivation seems to me the very means that can contend with those evils, in presuming to offer observations on the sugar cane in the face of so many practical cultivators of that plant, I wish it to be my apology.

The first operation I would suggest in ploughing a plantation would be to have the land worked by the skim plow, say to the depth of four inches, for the purpose of turning up all larvæ of insects which are generally found at that depth below the sedge. I then would have the tormentor follow instead of the harrow; by using the tormentor instead of the harrow much labor is saved in burning. I then would commence burning, making my fires from six to eight feet apart. I shall by that process not only destroy a vast quantity of insects, but also a large quantity of weeds and their seeds. Other advantages are obtained by the burning the sedge and weeds. It appears to me land that has never been under cultivation requires some stimulant to bring on active vegetation, which can only be done by the atmosphere, a process of time, or by the addition of manure.

If young plants are planted or seeds, sown on ground newly broken