INJURIES FROM MICE, ETC. 79 



of soft soap. To keep rabbits and sheep from girdling, 

 wash late in fall, or about the time of frost, as high as one 

 can reach. 



Blood for rabbits. — Blood smeared upon trees, as high up as 

 rabbits can reach, will generally keep them away. 



To drive rabbits from orchards. — Dip rags in melted sul- 

 phur and then secure them to sticks which are stuck pro- 

 miscuously through the orchard. 



It should be an imperative rule with all orchardists not to 

 allow brush heaps or piles of poles and rails to remain upon 

 their premises if rabbits are troublesome in the neighbor- 

 hood, for it is in such places that the animals live. 



Wash to protect trees from rabbits. — Fresh cow-dung, 1 

 peck ; quicklime, i peck ; flowers of sulphur, i pound ; 

 lampblack, ^ pound. Mix the whole into a thick paint 

 with urine and soapsuds. 



California rabbit--wash. — Commercial aloes, 1 pound to 4 

 gallons of water, both sprinkled on leaves and painted on 

 the bark gives a bitter taste, which repels rabbits. 



California rabbit-poisons. — 



1. Pieces of watermelon, canteloupe, or other vegeta- 

 bles of which they are fond, may be poisoned with strych- 

 nine and then scattered around the orchard. 



2. To 100 pounds of wheat take 9 gallons of water and 

 ■ 1 pound of phosphorus, 1 pound of sugar, and 1 ounce oil 



of rhodium. Heat the water to boiling-point and let it 

 stand all night. Next morning stir in flour sufficient to 

 make a sort of paste. Scatter it about the place. 



3. Another preparation is ^ teaspoonful of powdered 

 strychnine, 2 teaspoonfuls of fine salt, and 4 of granulated 

 sugar. Put all in a tin box and shake well. Pour in small 

 heaps on a board. It hardens into a solid mass. Rabbits 

 lick it for the salt, and the sugar disguises the poison. 



Sulphur for rabbits. — Equal proportions of sulphur, soot, 

 and lime, made into a thick paint with cow-manure 

 Smear upon the trees. 



Cow-manure for rabbits. — A mixture of lime, water, and 



