1908.] Insect, Fungus and Other Pests. 



685 



Mice injuring Trees. — The Board have been asked to 

 suggest a method for combating mice or voles which are 

 stated to be doing great damage to young elms at Woodstock, 

 the trees being completely ringed by gnawing of the bark 

 round the bases and for a distance of about 4 in. up the stems. 

 The trees were being smeared with " Smearoleum," and this 

 should protect them against the gnawing of the mice. 



A further method of preventing injury consists in spreading 

 here and there beside the young trees to be protected a few 

 branches of soft-wooded trees. These are used as food, the 

 voles preferring to bark or nibble what is lying on the ground 

 rather than the trees. These branches should be changed at 

 intervals, for as soon as they are dry the rodents will cease 

 to use them for food but will utilise them for shelter. Should 

 poison be resorted to, such collections of branches would be 

 good position in which to place the bait. In poisoning, the 

 oatmeal or flour mixed with arsenic or other poison should 

 not be left exposed but should be placed in glazed pipes ij in. 

 in diameter ; the mice then get access to the bait while larger 

 animals cannot reach the poison. 



Pitfalls or trenches, as recommended in this Journal for 

 June last (p. 182) are very useful traps, and 10,000 mice were 

 caught in autumn in Mecklenburg in a trench between two 

 fields. Drain pipes are sometimes laid in the bottom of the 

 trenches, with the open end level with the bottom of the 

 trench. Grains of wheat may be dropped in as bait. 



Fungi. — Among fungi, a specimen of apple from St. Mary 

 Cray was infested with Coral Spot disease (see Leaflet No. 115) ; 

 apple twigs from Birmingham and Limpsfield (Surrey), were 

 affected with Brown Rot (see Leaflet No. 86) ; specimens of 

 apple trees from Limpsfield were attacked by Apple Canker 

 (see Leaflet No. 86) ; and raspberry canes from Kelvedon, S.O., 

 Essex, were infested with Fusarium tubercularioides, Sacc, 

 which has hitherto been considered as a saprophyte growing 

 on canes that had succumbed to other causes. An attempt 

 to inoculate healthy canes has not been attended with success, 

 and if the fungus is in reality a parasite, infection probably 

 occurs during vigorous spring growth of the canes. The fungus 

 becomes evident subsequent to the death of the canes. 



