118 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
in the far West they burrow in the banks of 
irrigation ditches and thus cause extensive 
breaks, the repair of which results in the ex- 
penditure of much time and money.’’ (Lantz.) 
An enemy to orchard and forest. Re- 
cently, attention has been especially called to 
the injury done to orchards and nursery stock, 
-often before the owner becomes: aware of the 
presence of the animal, and it is evident that 
great watchfulness should be maintained by 
tree planters in gopher-infested country. This 
watchfulness should be especially alert where 
the orchardist, in order to prepare the soil, first 
raises and turns down crops of alfalfa, clover 
or cowpeas, sweet potatoes or sugar-beets. 
Any of these attract the rodents, and make 
their attacks more than likely upon the newly 
planted saplings. 
A gopher which in tunneling comes to a tree 
root attacks and eats through it. If the root 
is relished, it is followed and eaten close up to 
the tree trunk. Then another root is destroyed, 
and so on until the entire root system is gnawed 
away, wood and bark alike, leaving the trunk 
loose in the ground. 
