THE MEADOW MOUSE 83 



an entire meadow. Damage is more likely to occur where the 

 growth is long and thick than in closely pastured meadows. This 

 sort of damage is most noticeable in late winter or early spring. 



Meadow mice also do much damage to truck crops, and ai'e espe- 

 cially destructive to strawberry, raspberry, currant, blackberry, and 

 rose bushes and also to grape vines. Since the various berry beds 

 just mentioned are often mulched, the material thus used affords 

 hiding places and covering for the burrows. The animals are espe- 

 cially fond of the crowns of strawberry plants. Many growing 

 vegetables, such as potatoes, beets, parsnips, carrots, celery, etc., 

 are attacked by meadow mice, and in autumn when these vegetables 

 are left in piles for a few days considerable damage may be done 

 to them. 



Corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, and other grov.'ing crops are some- 

 times cut down and eaten. Corn is attacked mostly in the shock, 

 while some of the small grains also are thus attacked. At Osceola 

 and Corning such damage has been reported. Not only is the grain 

 eaten, but a portion is also lost or covered by earth so that, on the 

 whole, the net loss is often considerable. Alfalfa and clover also 

 are subject to the attacks of this mouse with considerable resultant 

 damage as reported from some parts of the state; fields of red 

 clover in some cases have to be plowed up and planted with another 

 crop. 



The list of trees and shrubs attacked by these mice is a long 

 one and includes practically all those grown by the horticulturist. 

 Among the trees most liable to injury are apple, plum, pear, peach, 

 cherry, sugar maple, oak, ash, cottonwood, wdllow, and wild cherry. 

 Other forest and fruit trees often suffer also. Damage to standing 

 nursery stock is often done Avhen the ground is covered by deep 

 snow, under which conditions the trees are not only girdled but 

 the mice often burrow down along the trunk and attack the roots. 

 Trees recently transplanted from the nursery to the orchard seem 

 to be favorite objects of attack, although trees five to six inches 

 in diameter are also damaged and in some ^eases are killed. Since 

 small orchards are frequently planted for family use only and 

 hence, on account of the care demanded by other crops, in many 

 instances are neglected and grow up in weeds and grass, they afford 

 excellent hiding places for meadow mice and encourage them to 

 remain throughout the season in the presence of a continuous and 

 abundant supply of food. 



