102 



lubricate the skm; it is very tenacious and capable of 

 being drawn out into a diread which is used as a means 

 of descent from trees and bushes. The most miurious 

 species are: (i. The Black Slug \A.rion ater, Linn.' • not- 

 withstanding its name this species varies greatly in colour 

 and may be either black, grey, reddish, or reddish brown. 

 When at rest the animal can be further recognised by its 

 contracted and almost hemispherical form. '2^: The Grev 

 Field_ Slug [Agnoliinax agrtstis, Lmn.^ is perhaps the 

 most injurious species we have in this country. It is ashy- 

 grey m colour with a yellowish or reddish tinge, and occa- 

 sionally specimens have a mottled appearance; longitu- 

 dinal markings are entirely absent. '^3^ The Black Striped 

 Slug \Liniax iiiaxinuis, L.; 13 the largest of the three and 

 may attain a length of over six inches. It is usually some 

 shade of grey, with longitudinal markings of a darker 

 colour, frequenth' black. Individuals inclining to brown 

 or dull yellow are also not infrcvquently met with. 



Tc is well known that both Slugs and Snails coniine 

 their operations to night, and are seldom evident during 

 the day except after rain. It is consecjuently useless to 

 apply remedial measures during the warm parts of the 

 day, or in very dr}' weather, the evening and early m.om- 

 ing being the most suitable times. The mucous secreted 

 by Slugs enables them to resist the action of obnoxious 

 substances m the powered condition, they have the faculty 

 of crawling out of their mucous investment, and m that 

 vray leave the powdered material behind them. This 

 mucous, however, cannot be secreted indefinitely, and if 

 two or more dressings are applied with an interval of 

 about fifteen minutes between each application the Slugs 

 are usually killed. A mixture of lime and soot applied 

 two or three times is an effective remedy, but the lime 

 should be quite fresh and very hneh" povrdered. Accord- 

 ing to Theobald the most effective substance is hydro- 

 oxide of calcium, a i to 2 per cent, solution m water. 

 Snails, on the other hand, are more difficult to destroy 

 from the fact that they retract themselves into the shell 

 and can close the mouth of the latter. \n this condition 

 they can remain completely dormant for several vears. 

 Dressings of soot is a well-known remedy against Snails, 

 it acts as a deterrent making the plants and surface of 

 the soil obnoxious to these animals. Xitrate of soda is 

 an effective dressing for use on a large scale against both 



