CHAPTER XIII 

 INSECT ENEMIES 



DAHLIAS are so far wholly free from bacterial and fungous 

 diseases, and they have few insect enemies. The chief of 

 these latter are earwigs and slugs, and these pests are so 

 destructive that when repressive measures are not taken at 

 an early stage, they do an immense amount of damage, 

 the slugs to the young plants, and the earwigs to the 

 flowers. 



The slugs commence their ravages immediately the 

 succulent shoots are produced in the propagating house or 

 frame in which the tubers are started into growth for the 

 supply of cuttings, and continue to be troublesome until the 

 plants are established in their summer quarters. Therefore 

 a careful watch should be kept immediately new growth 

 commences, and if there are indications of the presence of 

 slugs in the house, such as shoots with their points eaten out, 

 or slime here and there, search must be made for the 

 marauders until they are discovered. Unless this is done, 

 a considerable proportion of the young shoots will be 

 rendered worthless for propagating purposes. A few rather 

 tender cabbage or lettuce leaves laid about on the bed occu- 

 pied by the Dahlias may be useful as traps. 



A continuous watch must be kept upon the plants 

 during the time they are occupying pits and frames, for in 



