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suiting to the soil from their presence may have been overesti- 

 mated. It is also possible that, if these. worms were allowed 

 to increase without check, their abundance would in time ren- 

 der them obnoxious, even though their presence in smaller num- 

 bers may be desirable. 



It has been shown, furthermore, that the mole actually de- 

 stroys large numbers of white grubs and other insects which 

 are among the very worst pests of the farmer, and it is highly 

 probable that the good that is done in this way far more than 

 makes up for the loss of the innoxious and beneficial species. 



In deciding for or against the mole, its habits of disfigur- 

 ing lawns with mounds of earth, injuring plants by burrowing 

 about the roots, and devouring beneficial forms of animal life, 

 may be balanced against the good resulting from the better 

 aeration and drainage of the soil due to its burrowing and to 

 its destruction of insect pests. It is quite true that the work 

 of the mole is not entirely advantageous on the farm, but the 

 good service it renders in ridding the ground of injurious insects 

 is probably sufficient reason for submitting peaceably to the 

 annoyance which it sometimes occasions, and giving it such 

 protection as is possible. 



FIELD MICE. 

 Order Glires. Family Muridae. 



The different species of "field mice" or "meadow mice" 

 that are found in all parts of the country, are almost entirely 

 responsible for that damage done to plants of various kinds, 

 the blame for which is partly bestowed upon moles and shrews. 



Of late years, these mice seem to have been multiplying 

 abnormally in some sections of West Virginia. Serious damage 

 has been done in orchards, gardens, potato fields and other 

 places. The mice have girdled many young fruit trees in some 

 of the finest young orchards in the state. Complaints of this 

 kind have come from Berkeley, Lewis, Marshall, Mason, 

 Pocahontas and Upshur Counties. 



