130 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



and borer (though they have a means of pro- 

 pelling closely resembling legs), and slugs of 

 various insects who have so many that we cannot 

 count them. 



The usual method of combating them is by 

 the use of barriers to keep them from reaching 

 the plants. Snails are usually kept off by using 

 a square of building paper about six inches each 

 way. Cut a cross slit in the centre to be bent 

 and fitted around the stalk, and one slit cut 

 through from the centre to the edge. Open this 

 paper and place it around the stalk, as far down 

 as is practical, bending the points downward, 

 adjusting it to make a shield, thus preventing 

 them from climbing any farther. If the plants 

 are young, a little circular ridge of coal ashes may 

 be placed around them, about six inches away 

 from the stalk. This the snails cannot climb, 

 nor the slugs burrow. 



Slugs may be trapped by placing boards or 

 flat stones all about the plants, and each day 

 harvesting the crop. 



Cutworms are an abomination not to be en- 

 dured in the garden. Their depredations play 

 havoc for a while during the month of May and 

 the early part of June. They come out of their 

 holes at night, crawl over to their victim, stand 

 on their tails and, with great precision, cut the 



