CHAPTER XXXI 



Miscellaneous 



Mice and Rabbits 



Pine mice and cottontail rabbits occur throughout the eastern 

 portion of the United States and do much harm to fruit and ornamental 

 trees and shrubs as well as to garden produce and other farm crops. 

 Both can be thinned out or cleared out by poisoning. For thejPine 

 mice use Sweet Potatoes cut into pieces about the size of large Grapes. 

 Moisten four quarts of these and drain off excess moisture. SloVly 

 sift over them one-eighth ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid), 

 using a pepper box or salt shaker for 

 the purpose, and stir constantly to 

 distribute the poison evenly. One or 

 two pieces of the poisoned Sweet 

 Potatoes should be dropped into 

 the tunnels through the natural 

 openings, or through, openings made 

 with a stick. A systematic use of 

 this poison invariably results in an 

 almost complete extermination of 

 Pine mice. 



These pests are also easily trapped, but owing to the extra time 

 and labor required, this method does not compare favorably with 

 poisoning. Rabbits can be exterminated by the use of powdered 

 strychnin*^, but game laws should bs first consulted. 



Eradicating Moles 



One of the worst and most persistent pests in gardens, nurseries, 

 lawns and sometimes in greenhouses, is the mole. There are several 

 ways of trying to eradicate moles. First, and doubtless best, is the 

 use of traps, either wooden or iron, which are in several patterns, 

 those best known being the Out o' Sight, costing 75c. each; the 

 Reddick, at $1; the Ohnstead, $1.50; and the Nash mole trap, $1. 

 The latter is used and recommended by the United States Agricultural 

 Department. It is a light wire arrangement, and is^highly spoken of. 

 It acts upon the well-known principle of the Choker wire traps used for 

 mice. These and other traps may be had from seedsmen. It requires 

 considerable skill to set a trap to the best advantage ^ and is an art not 

 always readily acquired. In gardens or nurseries it is well to set the 

 trap at the edge of the grounds or lawn, as it is there that the mole.-> 



365 



