The Slug 
103 
out “ slugging ” on many occasions late 
in the evening armed with a brilliant 
acetylene light, the rays of which, fail 
apparently to alarm the slug in the least 
degree, whereas the slightest touch either 
on themselves or anything in close 
proximity at once causes them to withdraw 
the head. The slug has a famous appetite, 
and many of us can remember to our sorrow, 
some pansy, sweetwilliams, or perhaps 
some rarer flower or even fruit that 
has been ruined, with but a slimy trail 
left behind to tell the tail of the spoiler’s 
identity. Owing to their tendency to 
hide themselves during their period of 
hibernation, in all sorts of out of the way 
places, coupled with their nocturnal habits, 
slugs are very difficult to eradicate from a 
garden. Everything which produces a dry 
powdery surface, such as soot and lime, 
makes it difficult for slugs to travel, and 
so in a measure keeps them away from 
flower and vegetable beds, while they 
may easily be trapped by means of orange 
peel, banana skins or slices of vegetables, 
such as carrot and turnip. A narrow 
slat will induce slugs to crawl upon its 
