CHAPTER XLI 

 SUPPRESSION OF INJURIOUS ANIMALS AND BIRDS 



The beasts of the field and the fowls of the air are sometimes such 

 grievous trespassers upon the fruit plantation that protection has to 

 be sought against them. The animals which figure in this evil work 

 are mainly species of rodentia, some of them burrowers; as, for ex- 

 ample, the ground-squirrel and gopher; others, surface dwellers, like 

 the hare or jackass rabbit. Occasionally there is injury done by deer in 

 the orchard and vineyard, and coons in the melon patch, but these 

 larger animals may usually be left to the hunters and the dogs. 



RABBITS 



Though there are three species prevalent, none are burrowers. 

 This fact has led to united efforts at their suppression by driving them, 

 with mounted horsemen, from a wide stretch of country into a narrow, 

 fenced inclosure, where they are killed with clubs. During the last 

 few years tens of thousands have been killed in this way, and com- 

 paratively few are now found in the localities where the method has 

 been adopted. Still, however, there are plenty at large to vex the fruit 

 planter, and he must protect himself against them. 



Rabbit Fences. The surest protection against rabbits is a fence 

 which prevents their entrance, and many miles of such fence have been 

 built in this State. Several styles prevail. The ordinary board fence, 

 with the boards running horizontally, is made rabbit-proof by placing 

 the lower boards close together, with openings of but about two inches 



A rabbit-proof fence in successful use in the San Joaquin Valley 



between them. A barbed wire, with barbs about two and one-half 

 inches apart, can be used to advantage by running it along at or a little 

 below the surface of the ground to prevent scratching under. 



The cost of board fences has led to the use of barbed wire and wire 

 netting, or of perpendicular slats interwoven with wire. Such ma- 

 terials are sold in large quantities. A very effective combination of 

 barbed wire and netting, which is used in the upper San Joaquin Val- 

 ley, is described as follows : 



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