156 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1904. 



160), which represents the case of a nurseryman who, in spite of 

 such a fence, lost a large number of trees through the agency of 

 rabbits. 



Mr. Yahnke, the veteran nurseryman at Winona, tells me that 

 for two years he has kept rabbits (and mice) from gnawing his 

 nursery trees by the use of a whitewash made about the consist- 

 ency of cream, to which has been added enough blue vitriol solu- 

 tion to give the mixture a "robin's egg blue" color. Mr. Yahnke 

 goes between the rows, and with a brush rapidly covers the trunks 

 on the sides next to him with the mixture. The opposite side is 

 coated in the same way. Axle grease smeared on the trunks of 

 young trees is claimed to be effective by some. It would also 

 be unfair to our small boys not to mention the figure four box trap. 



Rabbits are much affected with parasites ; almost invariably 

 tape worms can be seen in their alimentary canal, and frequently 

 in summer a bot is found hanging on their necks, which later 

 develops into a two-winged fly. There may be several species of bot 

 flies which affect rabbits in this way. 



From the December issue of the Minnesota Horticulturist we 

 take the following remedy for rabbits and mice. It looks feasible : 

 "An experienced orchardist recommends the following sure method 

 of getting rid of these orchard pests : 'Make a poisonous solution 

 of one part sulphate of strychnine, one-third of one part of borax, 

 one part of white syrup, ten parts water. This is put into a roomy 

 bottle and well shaken. Now cut fresh twigs from apple trees 

 (water sprouts are excellent) ; have a small brush, and brush 

 lightly over the twigs, especially the terminal buds. The great 

 value of this over poisoned grain is that it will kill rabbits and mice 

 and will not injure the birds or chickens, while the poisoned grain 

 will kill all. Scatter the poisoned twigs in runways, and places 

 infested with mice or rabbits, and the results will be satisfactory.' " 



Field Mice: Perhaps there is no more annoying four-footed 

 pest to the nurserymen than these animals. Heavily mulched 

 nursery rows, or nurseries where oats are planted as a winter pro- 

 tection, are, we believe, more liable to injury than others when 

 snow lies on the ground, or when there is anything which attracts 

 the mice to the trunk, either in the nature of food, or in the nature 

 of a shelter, such as mulch or weeds, or partaking of both these 



