Slug population booms in damp, cool conditions

WHILE the cool, wet summer has been a disappointment for most Scots, it has been a gift to the nation's slugs. The weather conditions have lead to a massive build-up in slug populations which are now likely to cause major headaches for Scotland's farmers and gardeners.

Slugs do not have an enviable reputation with the general public. Many find their physical appearance repulsive, and anybody who has had the misfortune to tread on one with bare feet will know how disgusting they feel. In general, they receive little...