TheVilla ParkFvergreen News 
Published by 
THEVILLA PARK EVERGREEN CO. 
Dogs and Evergreens. 
Dogs and evergreens. Fhisis a sore chapter in 
the friendship between man and dog. Historically 
dog is man’s best friend. Many are the stories 
of mutual affections.However the relations be- 
come somewhat strained when even the best friend 
starts to ruin his master’s evergreens. Still 
greater repercussions result when the damage is 
done to the neighbor's prized possesions. 
Neighborly friendships not only break, but in 
some cases even lawsuits may follow. 
What's to be done? Many solutions to this 
knotty problem have been Suggested. But the 
number of suggestions are in themself a sign 
that it is not 80 easy for the right answer. 
It is understandable that a person gets angry 
if wild running dogs deface his evergreens for 
which he has probably spend a good deal of mo- 
ney and that he feels like shooting the offen- 
ding dogs. 
But this is not the way out. Milder measures 
have to be employed. We would like to enumera- 
te some, one or the other may help you. 
Some years ago the United States Department of 
Agriculture made some research along this line 
and suggested the use of Nicotene Sulphate 
spray. Dogs and also cats do not like the odor 
of Nicotene Sulphate and will avoid the spray- 
ed area. 
One drawback of this method is that the spray 
will have to be repeated after a heavy rain or 
about once a month. This holds good for the 
Several other preparations which are on the 
market now. They all have embodied the princip- 
le of repellent oder. 
Some one has Suggested tobacco dust scattered 
around the tree. Others have employed red pepper. 
Here again repeated applications would be ne=- 
cessary. 
lately an impregnated string has come on the 
market. It promises to be a more durable me- 
dium. The dark colored string can be strung 
around the branches. It is supposedly hardly 
noticeable and of a longer effect. Time of 
course will have to prove its value. 
Moth balls also have been used. They should be 
put about a foot away from the branches. Their 
odor seems to be objectionable to dogs. 
Another method is the use of mouse traps set 
around the evergreens. Reports one owner of ever 
greens; "I bought half a dozen mouse traps, set 
them withouth baiting and put them on the ground 
@ couple feet away from the evergreens. The dogs 
smelled around the traps and sprang them. To say 
the dogs were scared half to death is putting it 
mildly. They now make a big semicircle wnen they 
go past our place”. No harm trying this method. 
The planting of Barberry bushes around ever 
greens is still another approach to this problem, 
Or you may only spread a few twigs from Barberry 
around the tree. 
Low wooden or iron fenzes give some protection. 
However if heavy snow is on the ground they are 
of little help. Besides they usually spoil the 
appearance of the planting. 
Still another suggestion worth trying is the use 
of tempered black wire stuck up at the right 
ankle to tickle the dogs where they could not 
tolerate it. 
There are some Suggested methods against we 
strongly advise. Slingshots or BB guns should 
not be employed no matter how enraged one may 
be about the harm done by dogs. 
Also the use of electric fences are dangerous. 
A heavy rain, wet ground and a electrically 
charged wire are a danger not only to dogs but 
also tohuman beings. A lawsuit may be the re- 
sult. A friendly letter or talk with your neigh- 
bor may be the better way to abate the nui- 
Sance than slingshots or BB guns, 
Use the above mentioned harmless methods first 
before you consider anything else. Or may be 
you. have found a better way to keep dogs away 
from evergreens and we would te glad if yon 
will let us know about them, 
