FERN-PESTS. 



is one European snail {Helix cellaria)^ which, Uke 

 many of our garden nuisances, has been transported 

 from across the ocean, very probably with some 

 choice plants, around which an unusual amount 

 of packing had been placed for more complete 

 protection. 



The earth-worm {Lwnbricus)^ when confined to 

 the narrow limits of a flower-pot, causes considera- 

 ble trouble by its tendency to turn things upside 

 down, but in the larger spaces of the greenhouse, 

 and out of doors, does probably more good than 

 harm. 



The larva of a saw-fly {Abia caprifolii, PI. 22, 

 Fig. 3), which feeds upon the honeysuckles, and 

 also the currant-worm, have attacked the fronds 

 of Onoclea and Osmunda in the writer's open-air 

 fernery, causing much damage. As they are 

 quite large, they can be easily seen and picked 

 off ; or, better still, perhaps, the plants can be 

 dusted with hellebore or some of the so-called 

 Turkish insect-powders.^ 



English works complain of the ravages of beetle- 

 grubs, especially that of the OtiorhyjicJms sulcatus^ 

 which infests ferneries ; and Dr. Packard states 

 that *'a weevil somewhat like Otiorhynchus infests 



1 While the writer has been at work on this very chapter, two beautiful 

 specimens of Botrychium Virginianum in his collection have been de- 

 stroyed by a cut-worm, their withered fronds lying on the ground to tell 

 the tale. 



