72 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



of those that are in the ground out-of-doors. In gardens 

 where mice are numerous all seeds should be thoroughly 

 coated with red lead prior to sowing, as the mice do not 

 like this ; several traps ought always to be set in and near 

 their haunts ; and in case of necessity sharp cinders may 

 be freely mixed in the soil. This course is not, however, 

 altogether desirable, because, although they may do good 

 in the way of checking mice from devouring the seeds of 

 Sweet Peas, cinders are not invariably advantageous in the 

 culture of other crops ; and as the Sweet Peas are usually 

 planted on fresh quarters each season, they may become 

 something of a nuisance. Should it become a matter of 

 the first importance, owing to the depredations, then the 

 cinders must go in, since Sweet Peas are assumed here 

 to be the principal crop of the garden. 



After the seedlings show through the surface of the 

 soil there will be two enemies awaiting the delectable 

 morsels, and these are slugs and birds. Of these the 

 slimy slug is indisputably the worse with which to deal. 

 Trapping with small heaps of brewers' grains or other 

 bait is good, but it will not catch all the depredators. 

 Hunting must be made a daily pastime, and should be 

 followed up with all the enthusiasm that such a worthy 

 cause deserves. Applications of salt are prompt in their 

 effects, and there is no fear that the slug that has been 

 completely covered with this will do any further harm 



