142 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



Centipedes are creatures said to have one hundred legs. 

 They are small and difficult to see, usually a brownish 

 colour. A soil fumigant is the best method of disposing 

 of them. 



Earwigs are often extremely troublesome, especially in 

 the autumn. They get into the centres of large flowers 

 and spoil or destroy them. There are many ways of 

 destroying them, of which I give two. Cut some of the 

 stems of old broad bean plants into 6-9 in. lengths, and 

 lay them about the borders near the plants. Or put bits 

 of twisted hay or even crumpled paper in small pots 

 2-3 ins. in diameter, and place them on the tops of the 

 stakes used to support the plants. If no stakes are used, 

 lay the pots down on the soil near the plants. 



Go round and examine these traps every day with a 

 pail of hot water with a little paraffin. Blow the pests 

 out of the bean sticks, or shake them out of the hay or 

 paper into the water. 



Eelworms are small white creatures, most destructive 

 to plants. The use of quicklime or a soil fumigant will 

 kill them. 



Forty- Legs or Forty- Feet. These are dark brown 

 coloured creatures about i in. long. They are very 

 destructive, and can be cleared off the ground by applying 

 a soil fumigant. 



Green Fly. This is the same as Aphis, which see. 



Leather- Jackets. These are small grey crawling crea- 

 tures not half an inch long. They have a leathery appear- 

 ance, and are remarkably hard to kill by hand. Some people 

 use traps of turnip placed above the soil, but when they 

 are moved the creatures frequently get away. I prefer 

 a soil fumigant or gaslime. 



Millepedes are similar to Centipedes and can be disposed 

 of in the same way. 



Moles. These animals are often a great pest. They 

 burrow a few inches below the surface, push up the earth, 

 and injure roots. It is best to get a mole-catcher to trap 

 them, but if such a man is not available, buy an iron 



