A sixth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal insects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson].

  • James Anderson
Date:
1787
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A sixth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal insects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I h:;vc now two different Infers thriving very well on the Opuntia,viZ». that of rl'ie Guava kind, and the onejuft mentioned on the Brujaul^ but as neither of them have acquired the requifue colour, I have folicited a friend, Mr, Topping, to take a Drawing of the plant deferibed in my letter of the 26. Ultimo^ which I inclofe for your infprdlion *, for although I therein remark an agreement in the colour of the flowers of lUtt Opuntia diferibed in Sir Hans Sioanes fecond Volume of the natural Hillory of Jamaica Table VIII i.yet I obl’ervean eminent difference in the ftrucfture. The Stamina and (ligma of that Plant are drawn much longer than the Pstalsy whereas the of the Plants here fhut every evening, and are fo much longer than the Stamina Jlig7na^ as entirely to cover them, which laft however feems moft confiftanc with Nature. The Drawings of Mr. Topping are from Plants I had put into the ground in December laft. Tome of which are near tour feet in heighr, and the Country People tell me they will become ten or twelve feet high, but I cannot find from any of their accounts, that the fruit ever becomes of a rc(.l colour, which is difcouraging, as the Guava inicdl accumulates on the Fruit more than on the Leaves, as well of the Guava, as the Cuftard Apple, and Opuniia ; and a Hiftory ot America pubiiftird bv W. Ruffel Elqr. of Gray’s Inn, page '^^6 etJeq^ueniia^ quotes from Pere le Bat^ Reynall &c. that the fruit is full of CrimlonjuiCc, and to that juice the Cochineal. Ltkets owe their Colour. The Brhijaul Infect, rhough incapable of moving from one place to another, after ns cylindrical cafe has adhered to the P-anf, yet the Guava Infcft in the late dry Seafon, when the leaves of the Trees were parched, could not be found on rhe Guava Tree, but alter lome iearch was found on the Solanum Lycoperficony a culinary plant here, and on various weeds in. their neighbourhood. As far as I can perceive, the ants are the principal Enemies of thefe In- fects, from whom it may be difficult to preierve them, as rhe Phlogijtic Aro- ma oi Ptiroleum^ Liver o‘i Sulpiu^^ ov/tjfcjatida^ would be hurtiuil ; andi the introdwCtion of Fowls into the grounds attended with the inconvenience: of devouring both together. The moft eligible method, therefore, of keeping off the ants, is to wafh'. the Opuniia grounds with Cow Dung, after the manner of the Hindoos *, and. afterwards to ftrew quick lime, or wood alhes over it. Another great inconvenience is the high winds, which not only blow the infeds from the leaves, but likewile break down the Opuntia Plants, which^ are
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