PLAGUE OF FIELD VOLES. 169 



and that recent mild winters and growthy summers have chiefly 

 contributed to the present state of matters. 



As regards remedial measures, numerous suggestions have 

 been made, but, so far as I have been able to ascertain, none has 

 been very efficient, though large numbers of Voles are reported to 

 have been destroyed by men and dogs. While there is little doubt 

 that considerable numbers can be killed in this way, it seems to 

 be fairly evident from the numerous burrows in which the mice 

 secrete themselves, and the runs through which they so alertly 

 escape to them, that anything like total extermination by this 

 means is improbable. I have, however, been informed from two 

 sources, that by placing small "cocks" of hay or other fodder 

 here and there over the affected ground, on wooden rods, which 

 serve as bearers for their removal to other places, large numbers 

 immediately betake themselves to these for purposes of shelter, 

 and their destruction is thus greatly facilitated on the removal of 

 the " cocks." Pits dug in the line of their runs, wider at the 

 bottom than at top, have also been suggested, and are reported, 

 where tried on a small scale, to have been fairly effective. On 

 the other hand, I have been informed that, where tried on open 

 land, they have proved inefficient, but I have not had any oppor- 

 tunity of judging of this for myself. I believe that experiments 

 are at present being made with the view of poisoning the Voles in 

 enclosed places, but I have not yet learned with what degree of 

 success. Traps, so far as I have been informed, are of no use 

 for the purpose. 



So far as I have been able to ascertain, the general feeling 

 among practical men appears to be that, in the absence of nature 

 coming to aid in the extermination of this pest, extensive burning 

 of the affected ground is the most likely method of compassing 

 their destruction. There are, of course, practical difficulties in 

 the way of applying this remedy to an unlimited extent, as, apart 

 from restrictions in leases affecting the question, it is imperative 

 that sufficient herbage should be preserved for the maintenance 

 of the stocks during the trying spring season, which has yet to 

 be faced, but the propriety of applying this remedy as far as 

 practicable is generally admitted. With this view it has been 

 proposed that the statutory period available for such purposes 

 should be extended, so that not only would the chances of more 

 favourable weather for effective burning be increased, but the 



