1096 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



of the Y-like markings on the wings. The pests are double- 

 brooded. Wherever Paris Green may with safety be employed 

 that is the best remedy. In the case of garden vegetables the 

 caterpillars should be hand-picked. 



Slugs and Snails are to be found in every garden, and they 

 will attack almost any kind of plant outdoors or indoors, from a 

 choice Orchid to the homely Cabbage or succulent Strawberry. 

 Lime and soot plentifully distributed will tend to keep either at 

 bay ; but as traps for Slugs, either brewers' grains or bran laid in 

 heaps are the most alluring. Lime should be applied on a dry 

 day, and a second dressing should be given after dark. The 

 first may be thrown off by the Slugs with the exuded slime ; but 

 the second usually sticks and proves fatal. Snails should be 

 trapped by means of old boards slightly raised above the soil 

 level. After their midnight revels they will seek shelter under 

 the boards, from which they can be dislodged and killed. 

 All Slugs, with the exception of the worm-eating Testacella 



Fig. 708. — Carnivorous Slug (Testacella haliotidea). 



(natural size.) 



haliotidea (Fig. 708), which is comparatively rare, are hurtful. The 

 latter, however, feeds chiefly upon worms. It may be distinguished 

 by the small ear-shaped shell on the hind extremity of its body, 

 as well as by its size — 2^in. or thereabouts. 



Surface Caterpillars. — This is a popular name bestowed 

 upon the Caterpillars of certain Moths on account of their 

 habit of feeding near the surface. All are destructive to garden 

 plants, especially in spring, when the succulent new growths are 

 laid under contribution. Roots, low-growing plants of all kinds, 

 and seedlings, are especially attractive to the large Caterpillars, 

 which frequently gnaw right through that portion of the plant- 

 stem beneath the ground. Being night-feeders they are not very 

 well known by sight, and even when looked for by the aid of 

 a lantern they are difficult to see, by reason of their colour 

 harmonising so well with their surroundings. The commonest 

 of Surface Caterpillars are those of the well-known Turnip 

 Moth {Agrotis segetujji), the equally well-known Heart and 

 Dart {A. exclamationis), the Garden Dart {A. nigricans)^ and 

 the handsome Yellow Underwing {A. Triphcena promiba). Soot 

 and lime dusted round such plants as Auriculas, Primroses, 

 Polyanthuses, &c.," will protect them from the marauders ; while 

 stirring the surface-soil with the hoe very frequently will help to 

 get rid of the pests by exposing them to insectivorous birds. 



