135 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



the trees ; but I have always thought that they do much more 

 hurt than good. 



You may likewise destroy many of them by mixing quick- 

 lime with soot, and laying it along their roads where you see 

 them thickest ; but where you can come at their nests, the best 

 way is to put a piece of quick -lime into it, and pour as much 

 water over the lime as will slake it, the heat of which will de- 

 troy them : When you have poured in the water, cover the lime 

 with a turf or a little earth, ^vhich will render it more effectual, 

 by confining the heat. You may slake the lime with a mixture 

 of urine and soap-suds, which will render it still more ef- 

 fectual. 



If alittle of the pov/der of stavesacre be laid on the ground 

 round the stem of a tree, it vv ill prevent ants from ascending it. 



Slugs. 



These insects are frequently found harbouring about the 

 foundations ofw^alls, and about the roots of pease, lettuce, &c. 

 They may be picked oK and killed, by putting them into a pot 

 in which is a little fine unslaked lime; or the ground where 

 they are should be well watered with soap-suds and urine, mix- 

 ed with tobacco Vv^ater. When they are numerous on the sur- 

 face of the ground, which frequently happens after rain, or in a 

 dewy morning, fine unslaked lime thrown over the borders, &c. 

 will destroy them. But I prefer the above mixture, which, if 

 the ground be well watered with it, will bring them up out of 

 their holes, M'hen they very soon die : It will also destroy their 

 eggs, which they always deposit in the earth. 



Snails. 



Snails, during the winter, gather themselves together in 

 clusters-, and in that season are frequently found in great num- 

 bers behind wall-trees, and in holes of the walls. ' They must 

 be carefully picked off and crushed, which is the only effectual 

 way of gettiDg rid of them. If any should escape, they should 

 be destroyed as they miake their appearance in the spring. As 

 they also deposit their eggs in the ground, the borders should 

 be well watered^ as directed for slugs. 



Of Wasps and Files, 



As soon as the Wasp and Large Flesh Fly (which are verv 

 destructive to all kind of fruit, particularly grapes) make their 

 appearance, get ready several bottles, or phials ; then mix up 

 grounds of wine, or beer, with sweepings of sugar, honey, or 

 grounds of molasses, and with this mixture fill the bottles half, 



