CHAPTER XXI 



Fern Enemies 



Under genial conditions Ferns are not so much troubled 

 with insect pest as many plants are. Yet neglect, and 

 the want of ordinary care, may bring about many troubles, 

 and in many instances the mischief is not detected until 

 it is too late to remedy the evil. There is a tiny little 

 black snail which, if it gets a start, will play sad havoc, 

 and a little black slug is equally destructive. Yet these 

 are not difficult to trap. Slices of turnips, carrots, or 

 potatoes laid about on the stages, or among the Ferns on 

 the Rockery, will be a greater attraction than the Ferns, 

 and the slugs or snails will be easily captured, for they 

 will remain underneath, and by going round and ex- 

 amining the traps they may be caught. On stages, 

 a good dusting of powdered lime, or lime water, will 

 prove effective ; but lime must be used with care. 



The greatest trouble that Fern growers have had to 

 encounter is a modern introduction. Since Ferns have 

 been grown more exposed, and under drier conditions, a 

 little brown mite has proved most troublesome. This 

 mite attacks the fronds when they are quite young, and as 

 they advance they are crippled and distorted. The insect 

 referred to appears to be the same as that which proves 

 such a trouble with Begonias, Bouvardias, Gloxinias, etc., 

 but does not grow so large, and it is difficult to detect it 

 with the naked eye, but with a good lens it may be found 

 on the main veins. The difficulty with this is that as 

 soon as a plant is touched the insect will fall on to the 



