518 



before his suddeu death, which was lamented by all 

 who were acquainted with this true christian and 

 honest gentleman, wrote as follows: 



•■The Ground Hog, or Woowchuck, Is fast becoming one of 

 the farmers and gardner's most destructive enemies. I would 

 most earnestly recommend legislative aid in suppressing this 

 Intolerable nuisance. There should be a bounty of at least 

 twenty-five cents upon every one killed. I have looked in vain 

 lor some one redeeming trait in this sneaking, groveling curse 

 to the agriculture of our State. He is a gross feeder, devour- 

 ing nearly as much clover as a full grown sheep; he eats to 

 give him strength to dig holes, and then he digs holes to give 

 him an appetite for more clover. He takes supreme delight in 

 tearing the bark from young fruit trees, and will wipe out 

 entirely a good sized bean patch in a day, and will make 

 truck gardening impossible in many localities, and his sub- 

 terraneous excavations make it dangerous to drive teams over 

 our fields. It is said that he hibernates in the winter and 

 ceases for a time to follow his damaging occupation, but it 

 would seem that he simply retires when he can spend the 

 long winter months in making diagrams for new and more 

 extended operations for the coming season. Whether or not 

 he could be domesticated and educated so as to be utilized 

 in promoting sub-irrigation and laying drain tile, is an unex- 

 plored field for scientific investigation." 



THEY .\RE GOOD FOR FOOD. 



The succulent vegetable diet of the burrowing 

 Woodchuck makes his flesh, particularly when he is 

 young, a most toothsome article of food for man, con- 

 sequently this species is much sought after by many 

 for the table. The thick and strong hide when prop- 

 erly cured is used, I am informed, in some sections to 

 make shoes which are said to be particularly durable. 

 Sulphur fumes, gun powder, or dynamite when ignited 

 and placed in the Woodchuck's undcrgr(!und retreats, 

 speedily destroy him ; and a rifle in skillful hands will 

 soon enable the farmer to rid himself of these annoy- 

 iii-;- animals. 



