MOLES, TRAPS FOR. 



321 MOSS ON GRAVEL WALKS. 



thus eject the mole, and then kill it. But 

 a waiting game is always tiresome, and it 

 is probable that the concussion of the 

 ground under the footsteps of the approach 

 ing gardener may frequently scare the mole, 

 and render the plan abortive. When it is 

 desired to get rid of them, the best course 

 is to send for the mole-catcher. When the 

 weather is hot, moles work deeply ; when 

 it rains and the worms rise to the surface, 

 the moles work near the surface also. In 

 watching for moles, the rising of worms 

 to the surface is a sure indication of the 

 presence of a mole below and near, and as 

 soon as any motion of the soil is noticed, 



AN EFFECTIVE MOLE TRAF. 



the fork should be thrust in as deeply as 

 possible, in order to turn out the mole. 



There is a contrivance for catching moles 

 which has been proved to be effectual, and 

 which can be easily made. This is merely 

 a large flower pot an old tin pail will 

 answer the purpose excellently sunk 

 beneath the ground upon a level with the 

 floor of the run. A flat piece of board is 

 laid over the run, and the earth heaped 

 upon it so as to exclude the light com- 

 pletely. Its success chiefly lies in the 

 perfect simplicity of the thing. The moles, 

 seeing or feeling nothing with the highly 

 sensitive " feelers " upon their snouts, run 

 very readily into the trap, from which 

 there is no escape. Every fresh arrival 



adds to the company, for there is no re- 

 setting required, and there is no dis- 

 turbance of the ground to excite suspicion. 

 Doubtless the movements of the moles 

 themselves attract other unfortunates to 

 their ruin, for one who tried the trap with 

 eminent success caught seven moles the 

 first day, and three the second, after setting 

 it. 



Money Wort. See Nummularia. 



One of the names by which the pretty 

 basket-plant Lysimachia nummularia, or 

 Creeping Jenny, is also known. 



Monkey Puzzle. 



A name given to the Araucaria (Arau- 

 caria imbricata} t or Chilian pine. 



Moss on Fruit-trees. 



Wash the branches of the trees wherever 

 moss appears with strong lime-water : 

 itrong brine made with common salt will 

 also answer the same purpose. Moss 

 should never be allowed to accumulate 

 on fruit-trees, as it not only disfigures 

 them but injures the bark ; more than 

 this, when it has attained firm hold on 

 the bark by long continuance it is all the 

 more difficult to remove, and harm may 

 be done by attempts to dislodge it by 

 other means than those mentioned above. 

 Prevention is better than cure, and if 

 moss shows itself on the bark it is better 

 :o lime-wash the trees periodically to 

 :heck it. 



Moss on Gravel Walks. 



Sprinkle the walks and yards over with 

 refuse salt, but be careful to keep the salt 

 rom box -edgings and the sides of the grass. 

 This sprinkling should be done in dewy 

 or damp weather, but not during rain. A 

 strong solution of sulphate of copper, other- 

 wise known as blue vitriol, has been found 

 most effectual in eradicating moss. 



22 



