FRUITS. CHAP. 



up in a box, and have found them just as lively after- 

 wards as if they had never fasted at all. In winter time, 

 in dry and frosty weather, snails should be routed out 

 from all their fastnesses, and destroyed. This is the 

 most effectual way of guarding against their depreda- 

 tions ; for, when the leaves come out, they have shelter, 

 they are exceedingly cunning in availing themselves of 

 that shelter, but though' you finally discover and kill 

 them, they spoil your fruit first. 



303. SLUG. This is a snail without a shell, and like 

 the snail, likes neither sun nor frost. Some slugs are 

 black, others whitish, others yellow. The great black 

 slug and the yellow slug live chiefly upon worms, and do 

 not touch plants of any kind. The mischievous thing is 

 the little slug that hides itself in the ground or under 

 grass or leaves, and that comes out in the night, or in 

 the rain, and eats the garden plants of almost every de- 

 scription more or less, and sometimes, pretty nearly 

 clears a field of wheat. Slugs cannot live under the 

 shining sun, nor can they move about much except when 

 the ground is wet or moist from dew or rain : then it is 

 that they come forth and make up for lost time. They 

 are propagated amongst weeds and grass, and any thing 

 that affords constant shade and tranquillity. A garden 

 constantly clean is, therefore, the most effectual preven- 

 tion } but if they come, they must absolutely be killed, 

 or you must give up your crop. The way to kill them is 

 this. Take hot lime, in a powdered state, put it into a 

 coarsish bag 5 and, after night- fall, or before sun-rise, 

 in the dew, or on the inoist ground, go over their haunts, 

 shake the bag and let the fine powder fall upon the 

 ground : some little particle will fall upon every slug 



