/ * ,% ! I !*** **. ** 



THE GOOSEBERRY SAWFLY AND CointoliJFifeiD 8l,uo." ' "* 



PREYENTATIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



Early in the spring the surface soil from beneath the bushes should 

 be removed to the depth of a few inches, and buried in a deep hole ; 

 in this way the pupae are destroyed ; the soil from the hole may be 

 used to replace the surface soil removed. 



Handpicking the leaves which have eggs or young caterpillars 

 on, soon reduces the number. 



Amongst the various sprayfluids Hellebore powder and water 

 is largely used and with considerable success ; many growers, how- 

 ever, object to it on account of its poisonous nature. Flour of 

 sulphur dusted on the plants when the dew is on the leaves is said 

 to be quite as efficacious. Dusting with fresh lime has also proved 

 valuable. 



A mixture of 6 Ibs. of soft-soap and 4 gallons of paraffin 

 added to 100 gallons of water, has been used with fair success by 

 some growers. 



IV. MOLLUSCA. 



The Destruction of Bean and Fea Crops by the Common Field Slug-. 

 Afjriolimax agrestic, L. 



During the past year I have received from all parts of the British 

 Isles, and particularly from the Midland and Eastern counties of 

 England, numerous examples of the common field slug (A^i ioliinnx 

 agrestis, L.J, which have been found injuring Bean and Pea crops. 



Agriolimax agresfis, L., is the commonest and most destruc- 

 tive slug in the British Isles. It was first recognised in this country 

 by Dr. Martin Lister in 1674.. It is almost world-wide in distribution 

 and owing largely to its wonderful powers of adaptation, it has 

 established itself wherever the white man has made his home, very 

 often at the cost of less destructive species. 



After a mild winter, and the occurrence of warm weather in 

 the early part of the year, these slugs are exceptionally numerous 

 and exceedingly destructive to young vegetables, seedlings, beans, 

 peas, clover and oats, and in view of the loss occasioned by their 

 depredations, some account of the life-history and suggestions for 

 preventative and remedial measures may be useful. 



The full grown slug measures from one to one and a half 

 inches in length, the body is slender, usually yellowish in colour, 

 mottled with darker speckling, but the colour is subject to much 

 variation, the slime is thick and milky-white. The mantle, which 

 is one-third the total length of the body, is large and round in front, 

 more broadly so behind and concentrically striated ; near the tail 

 the back exhibits a slight keel. The sole of the foot is pale grey 

 or cream colour. 



