CHAPTER V. 



Injuries from Mice, Rabbits, Squirrels and 

 Birds, with Preventives and Remedies. 



To prevent mice from girdling trees in winter. — In heeling-in 

 young trees in the fall, do not use straw or litter, in which 

 mice can make their nests. In orchards, see that tall grass, 

 corn-husks, or other dry material does not gather about the 

 trees in fall. If danger from mice is apprehended, tramp 

 the first snow firmly about the trees, in order to compact the 

 grass and litter so that mice cannot find shelter. Where the 

 paper-birch grows, it will be found a good plan to place sec- 

 tions of birch-bark from limbs or small trunks about the 

 base of the tree. These sections roll up tightly about the 

 tree, and yet expand so readily with the growth of the tree 

 that they may be allowed to remain. Tie thin strips of wood, 

 as laths or shingles, about the tree. 



Washes to protect trees from mice. — Wash the trees with some 

 persistent substance in which is placed Paris green. May- 

 nard finds the following substances useful for holding the 

 poison: Portland cement of the consistency of common 

 paint ; Portland cement 10 parts and gas-tar 1 part ; Portland 

 cement 10 parts and asphaltum 1 part ; Portland cement 10 

 parts and Morrill's tree-ink 1 part. 



Lime-wash, to which is added a little sulphur, tobacco-de- 

 coction, and soap-suds. 



Carbonate of baryta for rats and mice.— Sugar and oatmeal or 

 wheat flour, of each 6 ozs. ; carbonate of baryta, ^ lb. ; oil 

 of anise-seed, enough to give the mixture a pretty strong odor. 



Tartar emetic fos rats and mice. — Tartar emetic, 1 part, oatmeal- 

 or flour, 4 parts ; beef or mutton suet enough to make all 

 into a paste. 



(6!) 



