Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 001.djvu/138

136 is evidently a most singular circumstance attendant on the fall of volcanic dust, that the eruption of a volcano taking place in the island of St Vincent, twenty leagues to leeward of Barbadoes, should have projected that immense mass of heavy matter to a height above the influence of the north-eastern trade-wind, so that it should have been carried in a contrary direction to it, and then have been precipitated by its gravity on the island of Barbadoes and beyond it; for in this way only can we account for the volcanic dust having made its way seemingly against the trade-wind, which, at that period of the year especially, is steady and uniform.

It is also worthy of remark, that the explosions of the volcano should have been heard at the distance of twenty leagues, though the wind was against the progress of the sound.

A long period of drought succeeded to the tall of dust, and during that period the columns of the lighter parts of the dust, which were raised and driven by the wind, proved a most unpleasant annoyance to those who were exposed to them, and exhibited a very singular appearance when viewed from any distance.

I may now notice an occurrence which took place subsequently to the tall of dust, and which I am inclined to believe was in some degree connected with that event.

As soon as the crop of corn (zea maize and holcus sorsum), and of potatoes, (sweet potato, or convolvulus batatas, of the West Indies) the planting of which had been long retarded by the preceding drought, and took place shortly after the fall of the dust, were established, swarms of caterpillars, of a variety of species, suddenly made their appearance, and destroyed the growing corn and the foliage of the potatoes. The sudden production of these animals, and their immense quantities, scarcely can be conceived. It will be sufficient to mention, that, in one instance, in a field of potatoes, not a single caterpillar was observable early in the morning, and before noon of the same day, they were discovered in such abundance as to require to be swept up and carried off in the earthen vessels used in the sugar manufactory to contain molasses, and which hold about five gallons each. The caterpillars, however, which destroyed the growing crops of corn, were neither so suddenly produced, nor in such vast numbers, as those which fed on the foliage of the potato; but successive generations of them continued to follow each other, so that scarcely any corn was reaped, and the island of Barbadoes suffered a sort of famine for many months.

How far the production of these caterpillars was connected with the presence of the volcanic dust, may be a question difficult of solution; but it may not be irrelevant to mention, that the dust had the property, from the large quantity of iron it contained, of absorbing and retaining the solar heat, so as to be painfully hot to the touch: this heated state was probably favourable to the evolution of larvæ.

As soon as the dust was mixed with the soil, or was washed from it, so as to lie in less abundance on the surface, the caterpillars gradually disappeared.

It may not be unworthy of mention, that the destruction of the foliage of the potatoes by the caterpillars did not in any degree diminish the crop: on the contrary, the return was unusually abundant, and ultimately saved Barbadoes from a continuance of the famine which the loss of the crops of corn exposed it to. From this circumstance I am induced to infer, that the dust, though it never seemed to unite intimately with the soil, had a fertilizing property. The chemical analysis of this dust is already before the public.—I have the honour to be, sir, &c.

 

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just seen the first Number of your Magazine on a table in the study of a much-respected friend of mine, whose talents have gained for him a distinguished rank among the learned and elegant writers of Caledonia.

I observe you announce, that a portion of the publication is to be set apart as an "Antiquarian Repertory."

As oft as you can procure well-authenticated articles, connected with antiquity, whether they are deemed of importance in the estimation of some of your readers, or unprofitable in that of others, you will do well to publish them, for "even out of the chaff a pottage is made." But beware that 