32G PEAR. 



during the winter, and for the most part appear (as above 

 mentioned) fully developed in the following May ; but some 

 remain in the ground unchanged till the following year. — 

 (' An. Rep. Ent. Soc. of Ontario,' published by the Legis- 

 lative Assembly, 1874.) 



The attack is of frequent occurrence in this country, and in 

 1887 I received an unusual amount of applications regarding 

 the injury caused by the " black leech-like caterpillars " or 

 "jelly-like grubs " to the leafage of Pear trees as far north as 

 Bawtry, in Yorkshire, and Cherry trees at Hexham, in North- 

 umberland. It was also reported in one case (at Bridgend, 

 Glamorganshire) as attacking Quince leaves. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The Slug-worm attack can be 

 checked by dusting or syringing. The caterpillars, if annoyed 

 by throwing a caustic powder on them, such as quicklime or 

 gas-lime, can throw it off at first by exuding a coating of 

 slime, and thus, as it were, moulting oif the obnoxious matter; 

 but they cannot keep on continuing this process ; therefore a 

 second application of the powder (of course soon after the 

 first) takes effect and kills them. If a good time is allowed 

 to elapse between the dressings, they will have regained the 

 power to produce the slime exudation, and the dressing will 

 do little good. 



Heavy syringings of the tree with strong soapsuds, applied 

 by a powerful garden -engine, are very effective in getting rid of 

 this pest. Tobacco-water will destroy them ; and lime-w'ater 

 has also been found useful, in the proportion of a peck 

 of lime to thirty gallons of water; it is noted that if two 

 pounds of soft-soap are added, it will improve the mixture. 



The Sawfiies have been found to fall to the ground on the 

 tree being shaken, and to remain for a short time motionless; 

 consequently it would be a good plan to place boards covered 

 with wet tar, or cloths, beneath the trees, and shake the flics 

 down on them early in the morning or late in the evening (or 

 at whatever time it was found they were collected on the 

 leafage), taking care that they were destroyed before they 

 could escape. 



The recurrence of the attack, which, when once established 

 is a very common circumstance, may be prevented by 

 skimming off the surface of the ground and removing the 

 cocoons. These may lie below the surface at from one to 

 about four inches deep, according to the state of soil. If the 

 earth is stirred over by a competent observer, little balls, 

 probably much resembling the colour of the earth they are in, 

 will be found, and may at once be identified by just tearing 

 tlie spun case open, when the caterpillar or, later on, the 



