252 SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. [Chap. IL 



turf, 60 they can have access to tlie clover roots, tliey become a scourge. 



The late dry summers nearly exterminated both rats anil mice — probably more 

 from thirst than hunger. 



The variety of mice that does most damage to trees is known as tlio 

 "meadow mouse," whicli always works under cover, girdling the trees most 

 when the snow lies deepest, particularly if it lies ligiifly or is held up by 

 weeds and grass, so as to allow the vermin easily to make their paths from 

 tree to tree, or from the tree to (lieir resting-jilace. 



278. Remedies for Mice Hating; Trees.— Tramping the snow down around 

 the trees is a pretty sure remedy, and where the orchard or nursery is not 

 extensive, will answer to be put in practice, but it would be trnuljlcsome on 

 a large scale, as it may have to be repeated several times in the winter. 

 Some persons have found it a good plan to tramp down the snow and wet it. 

 It then forms ice, that often remains nearly all wint(>r, keeping the ground 

 warm, as well as keeping the mice oft". 



Downing, in his " Fruits and Fruit-Trees," says: "The following mixture 

 will be found to be an eft'ectual prevention. Take one spadeful of hot- 

 slacked lime ; one spadeful of clean cows'-dung ; half spadeful of soot ; one 

 handful of flour of sulphur — mix the whole together with the addition of 

 Buflicient water to bring it to the consistency of thick paint. At the 

 approach of winter, paint the trunks of the trees sufliciontly high to be 

 jeyond the reach of these vermin. Experience has proved that it does no 

 injury to the tree. A dry day should be chosen for the application." 



Coal-tar has been recommended, but we advise groat caution in its use, 

 since many persons have destroyed their trees by it. A\'e would sooner try 

 a coating of strong alkaline soap ; that, at least, would not injure the 

 trees. 



279. Mice and Osasje-oranse^ — J- !>■ Cattell, of Salem, Columl)iana Co., 

 Ohio, says the field-mice are eating up all the roots of Osage-orange hedges 

 in that region, so that they are utterly destroyed, and their cultivation must 

 be abandoned unless somebody can give a remedy. He says : 



" It has been my uifderstanding, heretofore, that one of tlie greatest excel- 

 lences of this plant for fencing was its freedom from all animal destroyers. 

 If no remedy against the ravages of the mice can be found, it will be folly 

 to set a plant of the kind in this part of the country. One of my neighbors 

 has already given up half of his for lost, and grubbed out the balance. jSTo 

 doubt others are troul)led in the same way. I have tried traps, terrier dogs, 

 and poison, but all in vain. What shall I do?" 



Who can tell ? 



We heard one nurserj-man say that he should dig up an Osagc-orango 

 hedge, because it attracted mice, and also because it entirely exhausted the 

 soil of a wide space, so that he lost the growth of one row of trees. 



280. Ifatf, — Tliis species of the genus miis is an almost intolerable nuisance 

 in some portions of the United States. In fact, we do not know of any 

 portion now exempt. They follow man into the wilderness. AYhen we 



