44 FOEESTRY WORK 



weeds, etc., that serve as shelter and nesting-places for 

 these rodents. They will eat Acorns, Beech, Chestnut, 

 and other seeds, often when coated wth red lead. They 

 nibble off young seedlings, either for food or from pure 

 wantonness. Older plants will be nibbled from top to 

 bottom. The common field vole is a good climber, and 

 will often go to the tops of trees 6 feet or more in height. 

 The wood mouse and field mouse do not climb, but do 

 most damage to seeds and seedlings. Traps baited with 

 cheese or poison mixed with oatmeal or flour are often' 

 successful in combating these pests. 



Barium carbonate is the safest poison to use, as it is 

 very rapid in action and has no effect on other animals 

 or birds if they eat the dead bodies. Mix with oatmeal 

 into a stiff paste, and place small pieces in holes or in 

 drain-pipes near the beds. 



Squirrels sometimes do considerable damage. As they 

 are difficult to trap, they should be shot. 



Shooting, too, is the only way with destructive birds. 

 To put down poison would result in kiUing useful hirda 

 as well. 



On damp soils slugs and snails are common, and should 

 be trapped, either by trenches filled with lime or heaps of 

 moist bran. The latter attracts the slugs, which can be 

 collected and destroyed. A line of soot and fine cinders, 

 which they will not cross, may be laid round the seed-beds. 



Cockchafer grubs often destroy whole beds of seedlings 

 and plants. They may be trapped by putting down 

 pieces of turf, grass side downwards, in shallow trenches^ 

 The turf under which the grubs collect should be examined 



