GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



MICE AND RABBITS. 



Last winter field mice were exceptionally severe in Minnesota 

 and complaints came to us in the spring, from many sources, of 

 trees destroyed. One party lost a large number of fine young 

 maples, a loss representing several thousand dollars; others lost 

 fruit trees through their being girdled, still others shrubbery, etc. 

 A girdled tree may leaf out and even blossom in the spring, but it 

 is sure to die in the fall. 



To all of these complaints this office has answered practically as 

 follows: We have advised against early mulching (mulching if done 



Fig. 60. Field Mice. 



at all should not be done until cold weather after the mice have 

 sought winter quarters) and we regard cover crops, such as oats, 

 buckwheat, clover, etc., as conducive to mice injury. For that mat- 

 ter, all weedy growth and trash of any kind beneath the trees are 

 likely to harbor mice. It is undesirable to leave an orchard in sod. 

 These animals, it will be remembered, work on a tree at or just be- 

 neath the surface of the ground, and any application or barrier 

 must thoroughly protect that portion. 



Further, the work of mice can be easily distinguished from that 

 of rabbits. The latter work higher up on the tree and the maiks of 

 their large incisor teeth are plainly visible. The finer marks of the 

 small teeth of the mice can be seen in the wood from which they 

 have removed the bark, and, as stated above, they work near or be- 

 low the surface of the ground. 



