202 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



guard, such as is now woven by machines at 80 cents per 

 rod, with five double wires, which can be fastened to posts by 

 staples, and is an effectual protection. Otherwise the shot 

 gun and grey hounds are the best protectors. 



Ground squirrels and skunks, also raccoons and foxes, are 

 all very fond of grapes. The best remedy against the first, 

 and which also generally tells on the others, as they will eat 

 the poisoned squirrel, is Mc'Leods squirrel poison, made at 

 Livermore, Alameda Co. It is poisoned wheat, flavored with 

 Angelica, the smell of which seems to draw the squirrels, and 

 is instantaneous death to them. We have killed hundreds of 

 them by a single application of four or five grains, thrown into 

 their holes. They can generally be found the next morning 

 in front of their holes, and should be looked after and buried. 



The pretty little California quail, although no doubt very 

 useful during the summer m destroying insects, becomes a 

 great nuisance in fall, and I think it was wise in the super- 

 visors of Napa County to change the season of their protec- 

 tion from ist of October to i5th of August, as vineyardists 

 can now use the gun against them in time to reduce their 

 depredations. When we consider that they live entirely of 

 grapes as soon as they ripen, and that they will use the "grape 

 cure" at the rate of a bunch a day for each, we can easily 

 imagine what an expensive luxury they may become. 



