1 May, 1902] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 363 
The Orchard. 
DESTRUCTION OF FLYING FOXES. 
Whilst in the Allora district recently I paid a visit to the orchard of Mr. G. 
Moulday, on the Goomburra road, and was shown a somewhat novel method of 
destroying flying foxes which has proved decidedly efficacious during the past 
season, and will, I think, prove of interest to fruit-growers generally. Every 
fruit-grower who has suffered from the ravages of these pests will have noticed 
that they are always attracted by the largest tree either in the orchard itself or 
adjacent to the orchard, and in the case of the latter that they often hover 
roundit or settle on it. At Mr. Moulday’s there is a large gum-tree on the 
eastern side of the orchard that stands out prominently, and consequently acts 
as a great attraction for the foxes. Noting this, Mr. Moulday decided on 
utilising the tree as a trap for the foxes, and proceeded as follows:—In the 
first place he procured a bushy branch of a tree some 12 feet long and about 8 
to 10 feet through, and attached to it by means of string a quantity of fruit 
that had been specially prepared by poisoning with strychnine, the strychnine 
being placed in a cutin the fruit. An artificial fruit tree was thus prepared to 
the butt of which a strong rope was made fast, and the other end of the rope 
was passed over a limb of the gum-tree some 40 feet from the ground. The 
artificial tree with its poisoned fruit was then hoisted up, and the end of the line 
made fast so as to keep it in position. The foxes were on no account frightened. 
when on ornearthe prominent gum-tree, allshooting being confined to the orchard 
itself, so that when the foxes were disturbed in the orchard they flew to the gum- 
tree, where they fed on the poisoned fruit and were destroyed in considerable 
numbers. The branch with the poisoned fruit attached was lowered from time 
to time as necessary, and fresh poisoned fruit tied on. The poisoned fruit being 
firmly tied on was not carried away by the foxes, and the branch being some 
- 40 feet from the ground was out of the reach of anyone, and thus any danger 
of accidental poisoning was done away with. I saw the remains of numerous 
foxes round the tree, and was assured by Mr. Moulday that this extremely 
simple method of dealing with the pest had proved very effectual. 
ALBERT H. BENSON. 
: SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF MOVING TREES. 
By DAY ALLEN WILLEY, in the Scientific American. 
The transferring of trees is at present so scientifically conducted that it is 
not necessary to wait ten or fifteen years for shade trees to grow for one’s 
grounds or to ornament the landscape with large specimens of trees. In fact, 
parks and the surroundings of country seats can be made to order these days, 
the grounds about the residence being beautiful and shaded while the home is 
being constructed. Ata number of villages on Long Island can be seen fine 
specimens of forest growth ranging from twenty-five to fifty years old, moved 
various distances and replanted, yet are growing vigorously and to all 
appearances are in perfect health. They include such specimens as silver 
maple, Norway maple, beech, birch, linden, fir, hemlock, and cherry. 
Apparently it would seem impossible to transplant a tree 50 feet in height, 
with a trunk varying from 1 to 24 or 3 feet in diameter at the base, for even a 
novice realises the extent of the roots which spread through a wide area of 
ground in all directions, yet the operation is being performed with complete 
