-10- 



this poison has the distinctive advantage of being relatively harmless to 

 human beings and domestic animals. Those baits prepared with other poisons 

 should be exposed only by persons experienced in handling highly toxic ma- 

 terials. ViTierever possible place toxic baits in bait stations av/ay from 

 other forms of life. 



"Traps are of value primarily in catching the fev/ rats remaining after 

 poisoning operations. Baited traps may be used, but change the bait and 

 location of traps frequently. Unbaited wooden base snap traps are efficient 

 in catching rats if many traps are set so that the rats v;ill trip them by 

 passing over the triggers. Enlarge the standard size trigger witii a three 

 inch square of corrugated cardboard by inserting it between the tvro layers 

 of cardboard. 



"The fumigation of burrovfs and other harbors is a simple and highly 

 effective method of destroying r at s wherever a sufficient concentration of 

 gas can be obtained readily. Calcium cyanide, exhaust gases from a gasoline 

 motor, carbon bisulfide, sulfur dioxide, acetylene, and chlorine can be used 

 as rat fumigants when properly applied. However, they are all dangerous and 

 must be used with caution." (For additional information on the control of 

 rats, consult your county agricultural agent.) 



Orchard Experiments at Li. S. C. 





In the 1941 Report of the Experiment Station mention is made of three 

 tests as follows: 



Lime and Phosphorus in Planting Trees. Y/e have as yet no evidence that 

 phosphorus is directly beneficial to apple trees on our soils; v^e knovi' that 

 it is readily fixed in the soil and it follows that orchard applications 

 may not pass into the relatively deep-rooted apple trees. An orchard of 

 : 36 Ivlclntosh trees of a single strain on three clonal stocks was planted in 

 the spring of 1941. One third of the trees were treated with 10 pounds 

 dolomitic limestone, one third v/ith 5 pounds triple superphosphate and one 

 ._ third were untreated. The materials were placed in the bottom of the plant- 

 ing holes and well mixed v/ith the soil. As measured by trunk diameter in- 

 crease, the trees treated v/ith lime grew most, those treated with phos- 

 phorus least, while the untreated trees were intermediate. 



. _ Soil Acidity in the Orchard. Lime was applied to a Sudbury orchard in 

 \vhich aluminum toxicity was suspected, as mentioned in the report of last 

 year. It appears that both grass and trees vrere improved by the treatment. 

 ViTith the increasing use of ivettable sulfur the danger of injuriously high 

 acidity becomes greater. Not only is there danger of aluminum toxicity 

 ■ but nitrification in the soil decreases as the soil acidity increases. 



Weed Killing . The attempt to get rid of wild cherries » particularly choke 

 cherries, around the peach orchards vms continued. A new weed killer, am- 

 monium sulfamate, v;as tried. It looks very promising. Used at the rate of 

 0/4 lb. per gallon of v^ater, ''•ne spray was enough to kill small choke I 

 cherries and kill or badly damage black cherries. Chlorate weed killers 

 used at the sajne strength were not so effective on choke cherries and were 

 ineffective on black cherries. 



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