46 INTRODUCTION. 



water ; care being taken that the last be not too 

 strong, nor reach the roots of the plants in any 

 great quantity. Another most effectual remedy 

 s dusting the plants and ground among them 

 with hot lime. The most convenient way of 

 doing this is by putting recently slacked lime 

 into a small bag, about eighteen inches long, 

 made of thin canvass, and filled about half full. 

 This, held by the mouth in one hand, and 

 quickly jerked towards the plants, a cloud of the 

 finest of the lime will be forced through the bag, 

 and, reaching every cranny, will fall lightly and 

 equally on every surface. This will drive every 

 slug, snail, and earth-worm from the place, or 

 make them retire as low as they can into the 

 earth, where they will remain motionless for 

 several days; nor will they again venture out 

 while the lime retains any portion of its caus- 

 ticity. This dressing repeated occasionally, and 

 especially after rain, will keep all such depre- 

 dators at a proper distance. Dry oat or wheat 

 chaff laid round favourite plants is also a great 

 baulk to the snails or slugs in their motions. 



