CHAPTER XVI. 



Enemies Protection, Prevention and Cure, 



The gopher and the rabbit are the principal enemies with 

 which we have to contend. 



The rabbit preys to a very considerable extent only on or- 

 chards in isolated localities. It barks the trunks of the trees. 

 They are sometimes quite destructive, and their depredations 

 have been serious. A good shotgun in the hands of a skillful 

 sportsman partially cures the evil. Some resort to wrapping 

 the trunks of the trees a sufficient distance from the ground with 

 paper or cloth. Both of these methods are unsatisfactory in 

 their results. The wrapping of the trees is somewhat expensive 

 in the matter of time, and the trees must suffer somewhat in 

 consequence of being continually tied up. The best preventive 

 known is a simple and cheap one, within the reach of all. It 

 consists of blood and water applied to the bodies of the trees. 

 The scent of blood is offensive to rabbits, and they never injure 

 a tree so treated. This application can be made with a brush 

 or cloth. The operation may require repeating once in about 

 four or six months. 



The gopher, unlike the rabbit, is not driven away by culti- 

 vation and the planting of orchards. He persists in working 

 for his living, notwithstanding the presence of man. This little 

 rodent is indigenous to California and to nearly all of that por- 

 tion of the United States lying west of the Mississippi. It is a 

 grievous pest and a destructive element to the horticulturist in 

 this country. It asks no favors, but, heedless of consequences, 

 it usually barks the roots of a tree first, then comes to the sur- 

 face and gnaws the bark from the trunk of the tree for a distance 

 of about six inches above the ground. The first intimation the 



