220 GARDEN FOES. 



Narcissus Fly (Mcrodon narcissi).— The yellowish- 

 browu lai'vas of this bee-hke black fly feed upon the bulbs 

 of narcissi, gnawing their way into the centres, and thus 

 aiTesting growth. The fly appears in spring, and lays its 

 eggs on the surface of the bulbs, the larvse soon hatching 

 and commencing their destructive work. The result of 

 attack is a soft, spong}-, and decayed bulb. 



Eemedies. — Burn all soft or spongy bulbs; immerse any 

 bulbs suspected of containing maggots in water for a 

 week or two to drown the pests; and trap the flies in 

 spring by placing saucers containing syrup or molasses 

 among the plants. The aj^pearance of this pest must be 



GARDK.X S.XAU: (HELIX HO KT ENS IS). 

 Fig. 1, Egg-^s, natural «ize; Fig. 2, Newly-hatched snail; Fig. .1, Young 

 enail; Fig. 4, Adult snail. 



notified to the Board of Agriculture. See Chapter V., 

 Part VII. 



Slus:s and Snails. — Both are harmful to seedlings, 

 young shoots, and foliage generally in the flower garden. 

 Snails and slugs are hermaphrodites, and hence each indi- 

 vidual is capable of producing eggs, thereby affording 

 every facility for the perpetuation of its species on a large 

 scale. Snails are distinguished from slugs by the pos- 

 session of shells. The (larden Snail (Helix hortensis) is 



