See Slugs.

These marauders are said to be very fond of bran, and that they are readily trapped if this be put in heaps under flower pots, with one side propped up to admit them. The common garden snaill, Helix horfensis, is thus noticed by Mr. Curtis: -

"Snails arc said to be hermaphrodites, and, consequently, they are all capable of laying eggs; and there have been found eighty in one heap. They are globular, whitish, shining, and not larger than swan-shot. If kept in a damp place, they readily hatch, at once becoming little, thin, transparent, and nearly colourless shells. In a short time, they increase to twice the size, even when they have had nothing to feed upon. They are then of a dark, ochreous colour, with three imperfect rings, composed of brownish dots and streaks, and a transverse line of the same colour next the pale lip or margin; and these spots seem to vary as the animal withdraws or extends itself, owing to the dark tints shining through the semi-transparent shell.

As the snail grows, it has the faculty of enlarging the shell, from its own secretions; and, when full grown, it is as large as a small plum. It is convoluted obliquely, striated of an ochreous colour, variegated with pitchy spots, giving it a marbled appearance, and forming two or three transverse bands; the lip is ochreous, the margin slightly reflexed, the under side is smooth and white, with a pinkish tint.

"There are various ways of reducing the numbers of this pest - the simplest is, by searching amongst the leaves of wall-fruit in April, when the snails first leave their winter quarters, to satisfy their long abstinence, and they continue feeding until August or September.

"To protect seedling plants, a thick dusting of lime and soot round the stem will keep the snails away in dry weather.

"In August, the eggs may be found at the roots of pot-herbs, in the cavities of muck heaps, at the rotten foot of paling, etc. These should be diligently sought for and destroyed; for they nearly all will hatch.

"Salt and urine are destructive to snails; but it is difficult to apply either to them with much advantage. Lime, soot, and wood ashes are excellent checks; but the first loses its efficacy as soon as it becomes wet, and even the dews of the evening will frequently exhaust its caustic properties. Cabbage leaves are not an invariable decoy for the old snails: young ones, however, are very fond of them, especially when wet and withering." - Gard. Chron.