ard it
affirm'd by a Gentleman of Reputation, that _Pepper-Dust_, being powder'd
upon the _Blossoms_ of any Tree, will preserve them from Blights, which
may be, because _Pepper_ is said to be present Death to every Creature but
to Mankind. Now altho' this last Secret is too costly for common Use, yet
it may be of Service in some particular Place for the Tryal of a new Tree,
where a Taste of the Fruit is desired, and besides it helps to inform us,
that Blights are occasion'd by Insects, or their Eggs, lodging upon a
Plant, and that _Pepper Dust_ will not suffer them either to live, or to
be hatch'd.

Another Remark (which to me is Demonstration) that Blights proceed from
_Insects_, or their Eggs (being brought with the Easterly Winds) was the
total Destruction of the _Turneps_, _Ann._ 1716, on the West Side of
_London_; about _October_ we had dry Easterly Winds for a Week or ten
Days, and several thousand Acres of _Turneps_, which were then well grown,
turn'd Yellow and decay'd, unless in such Places only as were shelter'd by
Hedges, Houses, or Trees, where they remain'd Green 'till the _Insects_,
which came with the Wind, in about a Week's Time, destroy'd those also.
Some Farmers imagin'd that the Birds which were there in great Flocks, had
eaten the Leaves of their _Turneps_, and contriv'd all Means possible to
destroy them, 'till I convinc'd them that the Birds were rather Friends
than Enemies and came there to feed upon the _Caterpillars_, which were in
such great Numbers, that each _Turnep-plant_ had not less than a Thousand
upon it; and that _Insects_ frequently pass in Clouds and numberless
Armies after this manner, is plain from several Instances, which have
happen'd in my Time, and one of them (I think in _June, Ann._ 1717)
passing over _London_ were suffocated (I suppose) with the Smoak of the
Sea-Coal, and drop'd down in the Streets, insomuch that a square Court
belonging to the _Royal Society_ was almost cover'd with them; these were
of the _Fly Kind_, and fully perfected.

It may be asked, perhaps, how these _Insects_ came to destroy the
_Turneps_ only, and not touch the other Greens of the Fields, as
_Cabbages_, _Carrots_, _Parsnips_, and the like? Every Herb has its
peculiar _Insect_, like the Trees I have mention'd: Nay more than this,
the _Insects_ which Nature hath design'd to prey upon the Flower of a
Plant, will not eat the Leaves, or any other Part of the same Plant. The
Leaves of Plants have their