12 FARMERS BULLETIN 789. 



The damage to mushrooms is not confined to the cultivated species, 

 but may frequently be observed to those growing in woods and 

 fields. It is characterized by the rough, gouged-out appearance of 

 the holes, which seem as though excavated by a mouse or rat. The 

 creature itself resembles a shell-less snail from 2 to 7 inches in length 

 and is grayish brown to pitchy black in color, usually with numerous 

 elongate black spots. The eyes are borne on two pedicels or stalks 

 which are retracted within the body when the mollusk is disturbed. 



The imported garden slug deposits its large, round, transparent, 

 yellowish eggs in gelatinous clusters beneath boards or refuse over 

 moist earth. There is one brood each year, the young hatching in 

 the spring and becoming half grown by fall. As with other mol- 

 lusks, life extends over a period of several years. The individuals 

 usually frequent moist spots in gardens or lawns and feed on the 

 lierbage, but frequently they invade mushroom houses, where their 

 injury becomes almost immediately noticeable. 



The usual remedies for slugs, trapping by means of poisoned or 

 other baits, are inapplicable when these creatures occur in mush- 

 room houses, since they prefer fresh mushrooms to any other food 

 which might be used. It is therefore necessary to use hand methods 

 of collection, such as are mentioned under the head of " Sowbugs." 

 8uch measures should be undertaken as soon as the injury is noticed, 

 for if individuals are allowed to breed in the house their elimination 

 will be much more difficult. Advantage may be taken of the habit 

 of these slugs of returning to the same place of concealment each 

 day, and they may be sought out with a lantern and destroyed or 

 captured during the night while engaged in feeding. They are 

 repelled by dust, powdered lime, or ashes and will not cross a line 

 composed of one of these substances. Small beds may thus be pro- 

 tected from their ravages — for a time at least. Pulverized salt is 

 another valuable deterrent. 



CRICKETS. 



Among other injurious forms which at times attack mushroom 

 beds, certain crickets are reported as eating into the caps of the 

 mushrooms.^ 



The remedies for crickets in their injurious occurrence are the 

 same, as those recommended for sowbugs. Potatoes and carrots may 

 be minced befoi-e the Paris green is applied, in order that a some- 

 what thicker coat may be secured. 



1 On the raciflc coast a species known scientifically as CnithophiJus paciflcus Thom. 

 has been reported as causing extensive injury to cultivated mushroom beds. 



