170 SLUGS. 



and as it soon slacks it does very little towards getting rid of 

 the infestation. I have seen the Slug resting as comfortably 

 in the slacked lime as it would under a stone. 



Or again, if one dressing is given in the morning or when 

 the Slugs are out at feed, it often happens that it is not 

 followed up by another before the Slugs can protect them- 

 selves. 



To do good the dressing should be thrown in the evening, 

 when the Slugs are at feed, and again the following morning. 

 If the Slugs should again reappear next evening, the dressing 

 should be given again, but if it has been properly applied, 

 probably there will be no need. 



These common pests were reported as being very injurious 

 at various places, during the summer in the year 1883, and 

 the following observations give an example of the success of 

 this treatment. 



On July 31st I was favoured with a note from Lord Portman 

 relatively to Slugs, which were causing much harm to his 

 Turnip crops at Bryanston, Blandford. The specimens for- 

 warded were mainly of the Field Slug {Li max agrcstis), 

 together with a very few of the Avion liortensis, sometimes 

 known as the Black Slug. 



The attack, which was to Turnips on land broken up after 

 Clover, which had been mown in two successive years, was 

 very severe. The Turnips bad been resown twice, and on 

 each occasion the plant had been destroyed by being eaten 

 just above the root and below the leaf. Salt had no effect, 

 and lime also failed. 



Looking at the points noted above, I suggested that the 

 dressings should be repeated several times, the applications 

 following each other as near together as could be ; and the 

 result, as shown by the note given by permission of Lord 

 Portman, was a thorough clearance. 



It is mentioned : — " We ploughed a furrow round the 

 attacked plot, and filled it with quick-lime to cut off pest in- 

 vaders. We fed the adjoining land very close with sheep and 

 cured any Slugs therein. We then dressed the Turnip land 

 with a mixture of soot and lime in one part and salt in the 

 other. The first day did but little good ; the second doses 

 were effectual, and, being repeated at dawn and dusk, killed 

 the enemy. 



" The soot and lime acted best. 



" We have now a good crop of Rape, which was sown when 

 the Turnips were devoured, and of Turnips in the parts which 

 were saved by repeated dressings." 



This plan has been found since then to answer very well 

 where there was bad infestation. 



