Aug. 1910.] 



The Common Mole. 



33 



young plants began to show aboveground. A second planting 

 was protected from a like fate by the use of traps and shotgun, 

 and a fairly good stand of corn secured. 



Experiments with about a dozen live spermophiles (striped 

 ground squirrels) kept for months in the field cage shown in 

 the illustration on this page demonstrated that these little ani- 

 mals will eat some of the corn, no matter how it has been pre- 

 viously treated. That, too, in spite of the fact that they were 

 given untreated corn to eat during the progress of the experi- 

 ments. When the freshly treated corn was exposed in saucers 

 or trays they would generally eat the more palatable kinds first. 

 When planted in plots and allowed to germinate or to grow to 

 the height of an inch or two they would dig up all kinds indis- 

 criminately. 



The field cage for conducting experiments with captive mammals at the 

 Kansas State Experiment Station. 



The results of the tests of deterrent substances may be here 

 briefly summarized: 



SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND TO INJURE THE 

 GERM OF THE SEED. Kerosene, crude petroleum, copperas, 

 crude carbolic acid, fish oil, spirits of camphor and turpentine, 

 when used in sufficient quantity or strength to impart an odor 

 to the corn, seriously injured the germinating powers of the 



