-9- 



with good results. In fact, we decided after the first year's experience 

 to apply the solution to all young trees immediately after they were set. 

 Vfe had a girl follow the planter and treat each tree. 



As the trees became Isirger, the job of painting the trunk and branches 

 to a height of at least three feet, became quite a chore. This past fall 

 found us behind on our v/ork, and hired help was as scarce as "hen's teeth." 

 It seemed that the job of painting all those trees would be impossible. So 

 we decided to try trapping the rabbits to lessen the possibility of injury. 

 After this winter's experience with box traps I am convinced that at last 

 we have found a method we should have chosen at least tv;o years ago. Trap- 

 ping and removal of rabbits is eliminating the source of trouble whereas 

 painting with repellents only delays it. In my estimation, the repellents 

 should be considered only as an emergency measure to give protection until 

 such time as more effective steps can be taken. 



You will be interested to note that I have caught 17 "Cotton-Tails" 

 so far this winter. Most of them have come from the brush areas on my farm. 

 Out of all the young trees which vie now have, I do not think we could find 

 more than a dozen trees which have been injured by rabbits this v/inter. 



The amount of injury is quite different in several other orchards 

 where no control measures have been practiced, or where trapping was started 

 late. In one orchard where there are apple and pear trees of different ages, 

 there has been very serious damage to both apple and pear trees. Whole young 

 trees have been eaten off to the snov/ level and on many trees six to eight 

 years old, the bark has been removed on large areas of the trunks and main 

 limbs. I have seen older bearing trees where the rabbits have made a clean 

 job of removing the fruit sp'urs within reach. Eleven rabbits have been re- 

 moved from this orchard so far, and there are still a few more to be caught. 



The trapping of rabbits is very simple and can be done after the rush 

 of the fall season is over. Apples make ideal bait; some people say sweet 

 varieties are preferred although I doubt if it makes much difference if they 

 are sweet or slightly acid. Cold nights following a moderately heavy snow- 

 fall seem to be ideal for catching rabbits. One can make his own traps at 

 little or no expense except for the labor required. It should not take more 

 than an hour to build a trap. The necessary odds and ends can be found on 

 most farms. 



There are many designs of box traps. The type made by using boards 

 for the top and bottom and small mesh poultry netting for the sides and back 

 is most desirable. A trap 10" or 12" square, and 18" to 24" long is large 

 enough. The trigger arrangement for closing the door is the one feature 

 which has received most attention. (Any grower interested in the details of 

 construction may obtain them by dropping a line to the writer, French Hall, 

 M.S.C, Amherst, Mass.) 



Just a word of caution. AH rabbits caught must be reported to the 

 State Department of Conservation, Div. of Fisheries and Game, Boston, Mass., 

 giving the number of rabbits taken and disposition of the same. 



— A. C. Ballard 



