INSECTS, MITES, ETC 225 



Kemedies. — (1) On lawns the " ca^ts " thrown up enrich 

 the surface soil and i^rovide extra food for the grasses. It 

 is true the " casts " are objectionable, but this difficulty 

 is easily overcome by sweeping the surface once or twice 

 a week with a birch broom, and afterwards rolhng it. The 

 "casts" are then distributed, and pressed down to the 

 roots of the grass, and the annoyance, if any, got rid of. 

 (2) If very numerous and objectionable they may be got 

 rid of in a wholesale manner by watering the lawn with 

 a solution of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury). 

 Dissolve an ounce in hot water, and add water to make 

 40 gallons. Apply in wet weather; then the worms will 

 come to the surface, and may be swept off. Do not give 

 the poisoned worms to poultry, but bury them. (3) To 

 prevent worms coming to the surface of lawns, when mak- 

 ing new ones spread a layer of fine cinder ashes one inch 

 thick on the soil, then add an inch of fine soil and lay the 

 turf on this. (4) Then, if worms are troublesome on gravel 

 patbs, it is because the surface is not kept well rolled. 

 If the surface be well rolled and made firm worms will go 

 elsewhere, and the difficulty will cease. The only slight 

 harm worms do in borders is to make the soil too loose 

 round the plants. If the latter have the soil around them 

 pressed down occasionally no harm accrues. (5) Another 

 remedy for eradicating worms from lawns : Mercuric per- 

 chloride, 101b.; hydrochloric acid, 41b.; water, 61b. Use 

 half an ounce of this mixture to every three gallons of 

 water. The mercury is a dangerous poison, so should not 

 be left about. Sweep off the worms and bury them. 



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