i8o ROCK GARDENS 



my readers that, judging from appearances, 

 the scissors are equally speedy in dealing with 

 slug or snail. 



By persevering with this treatment, these 

 pests, though not completely banished, can 

 be kept within reasonable bounds. Wire- 

 worms, of which there are several varieties, are 

 the larvae of various kinds of beetles, known 

 by the popular name of the click, or skip- 

 jack. These wire-worms, especially in new 

 ground, are a great scourge. They are about 

 half an inch long, and somewhat thicker than 

 an ordinary knitting-needle, and of an orange 

 colour. They obtain their name from the 

 toughness of their skin. They can be ham- 

 mered into the ground, which treatment, 

 unless it be peculiarly hard, appears to have 

 but little effect on them. They are most 

 destructive, especially to any of the Dianthus 

 family, and dearly love the tuberous-rooted 

 plants. " Vaporite " is very successful in 

 warding off their attacks, and will in fact 

 kill them, while it is perfectly harmless 

 to even the most delicate plants. It can 

 be obtained from almost any seedsman or 



