128 The Amateur's Book of the Dahlia 



a few of the grains in and carefully covering 

 the hole with a lump of soil, a small stone, ot a 

 bit of sod. Moles, being blind, have their other 

 senses more acute and can immediately tell if 

 there is a hole in the roof of the run by the fresh 

 air which comes in that way. This makes them 

 cautious, and the poisoned grain may not be con- 

 sidered a safe diet that day. 



There are a number of gases used in the rims 

 to kill moles, but there is much labour entailed 

 in the finding of all openings (which of course 

 must be tightly sealed), and unless the run leads 

 to a nest, there is little chance of the gas reaching 

 the intended victim. 



Intelligent trapping with me has been the 

 most successful method. Moles hibernate very 

 far underground, and after their long winter's 

 sleep they are hungry. In early spring they run 

 close under the surface of the soil in search of 

 insects and pupae, and are not so wary of possible 

 dangers as they are later in the season. If the 

 trap is set as soon as a new run is discovered, the 

 chances are that Mr. Mole will be in it before 

 sundown. 



The ordinary mole trap is made of strong steel. 

 A plate containing long spikes is attached to a 

 powerful spring which drives it down as soon 

 as the mole works under a second plate set over 



