94 



GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



bating mice on a large scale should see the Government bulletin 

 above referred to. 



Inasmuch as mice are devoured by skunks, foxes, weasels, owls, 

 and hawks, it would seem desirable to protect all or most of such 

 animals which are commonly regarded as "vermin" and destroyed. 



Rabbits. 



A more foolish law than the one created by recent legislative 

 enactment making it illegal to hunt rabbits in Minnesota with fer- 

 rets can hardly be conceived since they are amongst the worst pests 

 of horticulturists, nursery- 

 men and farmers, and 

 yearly cause losses in the 

 one state of Minnesota 

 amounting to many thou- 

 sands of dollars. The more 

 rapid and complete their 

 extermination in this 

 State, the greater the sat- 

 isfaction in owning nursery 

 stock, fruit trees and orna- 

 mentals. While they show 

 preference to certain culti- 

 vated trees and shrubs, 

 when snow is on the ground 

 they are apt to turn to any- 

 thing which offers in a 

 most unexpected way. They 

 appear to be particularly 

 fond of Spirca Van Hout( i 

 and last winter we noted 

 Japanese Barberries which 

 had been cut down to snow 

 line. Even the spines on 

 Rugosa Roses appeared to 

 offer no obstacle. As a rule 

 injury is done after the ar- 

 rival of snow, yet this fall, 

 1912, we found them at- 

 tacking young apple trees 



early in October while abundance of green food was still at hand. 

 An ounce of prevention is certainly worth several pounds of cure in 



Fig. 6B. Guard made of wood veneer. 

 Ohio E.xperlment Station. 



