1836 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OP PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



most satisfactory poison for laeld mice. 

 Although a deadly substance, it is less 

 dangerous to handle than either phos- 

 phorus or potassium cyanide. For poison- 

 ing JBeld mice various baits may be used, 

 such as wheat, oatmeal, or corn. The 

 bait "should be soaked over night in a 

 poison syrup, which may be prepared 

 as follows: Dissolve an ounce of strych- 

 nia sulphate in a pint of boiling water, 

 adding a pint of thick syrup and stir 

 thoroughly. The prepared syrup may be 

 scented with a few drops of oil of anise. 

 The above quantity is enough to poison 

 a half bushel of wheat or corn, but small- 

 er proportional quantities of grain or 

 syrup may be prepared as needed. After 

 thoroughly mixing the solution if it is too 

 wet a little dry corn meal will take up 

 the excessive moisture. If the solution 

 is not sufficient to wet the grain thorough- 

 ly add a little water. 



Because of the danger of destroying 

 native birds, such as quail, sparrows, and 

 others, the poisoned bait should not be 

 placed in exposed situations, but under 

 shelters which will admit mice but ex- 

 clude birds. Wide boards lying upon 

 thin cross-pieces of wood are excellent 

 for this purpose. 



Moles 



The moles thrive best in a loose moist 

 soil containing an abundant supply of 

 grubs and earthworms. There are two 

 parts to its system of runways, the deep- 

 er channels leading to underground 

 chambers, and the shallow surface chan- 

 nels ranging over the hunting grounds. 

 During the rainy season in the fall they 

 seem to be most active. It is generally 

 considered that the diet of moles consists 

 of insects and worms, although pieces of 

 vegetable matter have been found in 

 their stomachs. Whether they do or not, 

 in all justice to them as destroyers of 

 insects, we should explain that many mice 

 run about in their burrows and undoubt- 

 edly do most of the damage to seeds, 

 roots, etc., laid to the moles. 



In general moles are beneficial, but 

 that does not mean that they should be 

 allowed to work in small gardens, lawns, 



etc., because of the disfigurement caused 

 thereby. 



Destruction of Moles 



All methods which may be employed 

 are more or less unsatisfactory. 



Trapping is probably the most practi- 

 cal method, and after a little experience 

 one can become quite efficient at setting 

 the trap in the right place. Success de- 

 pends a great deal upon the operator's 

 proper knowledge of the mole's habits. 

 When ready to set the trap one should 

 locate a place in the surface runway 

 where fresh work can be seen — ^press 

 down firmly the burrow at one spot for a 

 little more than the length of the trap — 

 do not disturb any other part of the 

 burrow. Of the large number of mole 

 traps on the market there is probably 

 not much difference in their efficiency, 

 but one should be sure to secure proper 

 instructions for operating the ones tried. 

 Directions for setting the trap should be 

 given with each trap sold. Small steel 

 or spring traps set in their runways are^ 

 useless as the moles will burrow under 

 or around them without noticing any 

 bait placed in them. 



Poison 



Of all the methods tried by various ex- 

 periment stations the following from the 

 Michigan State Agricultural College 

 seems to be the best. Remove the seeds 

 from raisins and insert instead crystals 

 of strychnine. Insert into burrow through 

 a small hole made with a sharp stick. 



Rolling the lawn is a very good prac- 

 tice to follow where moles are working 

 in the lawn, repeated rollings seem to 

 discourage the moles and compacts the 

 dirt around disturbed grass roots, as well 

 as leveling the ridges. 



Pocket Gophers 



H. F. Wilson 



The ridges and mounds of earth 

 thrown up by moles are often incorrect- 

 ly supposed to be the work of gophers, 

 A few careful observations will show the 

 difference. 



The gopher piles up the dirt on the 

 surface of the ground, building a mound 

 by the addition of load after load on top 



