594 



Slugs and Snails. 



and the responsibility rests with the purchaser. There is 

 nothing better than placing the youngsters for an hour or two- 

 in a brooder heated to as near 100 degrees as possible, and 

 in the absence of such an appliance, excellent results have 

 been obtained by putting them into an oven, in a flannel-lined 

 basket, leaving the door open, not higher than the temperature 

 named ; or it will be enough if the basket is placed near the 

 kitchen fire. Then they should be given a good feed of warm 

 steeped oatmeal or biscuit meal, and have a little warm 

 milk to drink. If broody hens are available, the best results 

 will be obtained by rearing the chickens under them, if they 

 have travelled a considerable distance. One or two should be 

 given to her first in order to see if she takes to them kindly, and 

 then the rest may be slipped under her wings. Where rearers are 

 to be employed, and small, inexpensive appliances are now sold, 

 these must be well warmed up, say, to 95 degrees F., and the 

 chicks placed therein. Around or in these brooders, according 

 to the class, is littered cut chaff, among which is scattered what 

 is known as the dry feed, and in an hour or two the birds will, 

 if permitted, begin to scratch and seek for food as if they had 

 known nothing of the delights of travel, but had been born a 

 few yards away. 



Edward Brown. 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL SLUGS AND 

 SNAILS. 

 I. 



Slugs and snails cause every year a very considerable loss to* 

 the farmer and gardener ; we also find slugs now and again doing 

 damage to stores, &c, indoors, notably to wine corks. During 

 the last four years there has been a great increase in the number 

 of slugs all over Britain ; so much so that during the last two' 

 years whole fields of wheat, cabbage, and other plants have been 

 stripped by them. In gardens during the past season it^has 

 frequently been impossible to get a crop of early peas or beans,, 

 whilst the young potato sprouts were often eaten right down.. 

 Snails are also frequently destructive, but have not increased m 

 the same rapid manner as slugs. 



