292 



SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 



PART II. 



212 



SUBSECT. 2. Machines for Vermin, and Defence against the Enemies of Gardens. 



1473. Of engines for entrapping or destroying vermin, and for the defence of gardens, there 

 are but a few. All of them, with their modes of operating, are referable to commonly un- 

 derstood mechanical and chemical principles, and to certain instincts and propensities of 

 animated beings, which it is unnecessary to detail. 



1474. Engine-traps for man are of two species, the common and the humane. 



1 475. The common man-trap is a rat-trap on a large scale, differing from it only in the 

 mode of setting ; the former being baited and left loose, and the latter not being baited, but 

 fixed to the ground by a chain. This is a barbarous contrivance, though rendered absolutely 

 necessary in the exposed gardens around great towns. Its defect is, that its severity defeats 

 its own purpose ; for though kept and exposed to view in many places in the day-time, 

 yet few venture to set them at night, and hence intruders, calculating on this humanity, 

 enter and commit their depredations in spite of these machines. 



1476. The humane man-trap, instead of breaking the leg by crushing, and consequently by 

 the worst of all descriptions of compound fractures, simply breaks the leg, and therefore 

 is comparatively entitled to the appellation of humane. It is not unfrequently set in market- 

 gardens near the metropolis. 



1477. Engine-traps for quadrupeds are chiefly the mouse, rat, and mole traps. 



1478. The garden mouse-trap is generally composed of a slate and a brick, supported by 

 a combination of three slips of wood, forming the figure 4, and baited by a pea or bean. 

 A few cats domiciled in the back sheds of hot-houses, will generally keep a walled garden 

 clear of this enemy ; but the above trap is good for open grounds. 



1 47 9. The garden rat-trap (fig. 212.) 

 should generally be a box, or enticing 

 engine, of some sort, rather than a toothed 

 iron trap ; because unless there is a great 

 scarcity of food, which is seldom the case 

 as to the field rat, it will not be allured 

 by the bait of the former ; whereas a trap 

 may be so disguised by straw, or moss, or 

 leaves, and so scented by oil of anise, as 

 to be resorted to or at least not recog- 

 nised by the rats till they are taken. 



1480. The mole-trap (Jigs. 213, & 

 214.) is of various forms, and either 

 made of wood or iron, or of both mate- 

 rials. There are several varieties to be 

 obtained in the shops ; none of which 



appear superior to the original bow-trap, which any laborer may form for himself. 

 Moles may be effectually destroyed by taking their nests in spring. 



1481. Engines of destruction are the spring-gun, musket, and fumigating bellows : the 

 musket is essentially necessary, both as a destroyer, and scare of birds. 



1482. The fumigating bellows (Jig. 215.) differs from the common 

 domestic bellows in having a receptacle (a) for leaves of damaged 

 foreign or of home-grown tobacco, which being ignited, and the 

 blast sent through it, a powerful issue of smoke is produced by the 

 rose (6), which can either be directed against insects on particular 

 plants, or used to fill the atmosphere of a hand-glass, frame, or hot- 

 house. 



1483. Engines of alarm, or scares, are the bell or gong alarm for 

 man ; and the rattle-engine driven by hand, or a small wind-engine 

 for herds. 



1484. The concealed alarm is a system of wires spread over a gar- 

 den or orchard, like those of the spring-gun, and terminating in a 

 bell or gong alarm, which goes off when any of the wires are dis- 

 turbed. This alarm may be in or near to the gardener's room, watch- 

 tower, or other suitable place, though at a considerable distance from 

 the wires. This is, perhaps, on the whole, the best way of detecting 

 intruders. In addition to setting off an alarm, the same wire may let 

 loose a watch-dog, drop a heavy body, or a fulminating glass bead, 

 discharge a gun, &c. 



1485. Of living vermin-killers, the ferret is useful for catching rabbits, squirrels, and 

 ground rats ; the cat for mice, rats, and birds; the terrier for eradicating foxes ; and ducks 

 and gulls eat snails, worms, frogs, &c. 



1486. The essential vermin- engines are the mole and mouse traps, fumigating 

 bellows, and musket. 



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215 



