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OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 208 



The verdict was rendered without debate. The tree was pro- 

 tected — so was the enemy! The one to continue growth unblemished 

 with promise of fruitful days to come; the others to rapidly outgrow 

 their period of innocence and harmlessness and develop into agile, 

 rollicking, mischief-working rodents which inspire no further real 

 appreciation until "bagged" by a careful gunner; then, at last, they 

 "promise to be good"— served on the table of the orchardist. 



Fig. 2. Should we slay the enemy or protect the tree? 



II. FURTHER DISCOVERIES 



Let us resume our visit of inspection in this young orchard. 

 Here is a row of trees six or seven years of age which has, in a 

 measure, outgrown the period of danger of injur}- by rabbits. Dare 

 we allow ourselves to feel secure in considering these beyond the 

 need of further attention. By no means! They had been heavily 

 mulched with grass cut from between the rows in June; but up 

 through this mulch are pushing, here and there, sturdy growths of 

 rag-weed, yarrow, sorrel and other strong-growing weeds which, 

 together with the decaying material of the mulch beneath, provide 

 excellent hiding places and covers under which the field or meadow 

 mice will work when winter comes, if not before. 



Let us draw back the mulch from about the stems of a few of 

 the trees and see what may be found. Many "runs" and burrows 

 of field mice are thus exposed, but the trees, so far, seem to be 



