The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-02-13
The Ground Mole,

Mr.. S. Miller, of Pettis county, Mis-.
souri,. writes to the journal Of Agricul.
tire as follows:
Is ii friend or enemy. is often asked
and while one dcnounces il severely
Others defend il and set forth its useful.
ness. Naturalists assert that they are
insectivorous, and do not feed upon the
roots of plants at all. While Others rs
sert that they cut corn. and that they
caught them in trap baited with corn
above ground. This last we very much
doubt for in all our observations for
half century, and always tillerof the
soil, have never seen ground mole in
the light Of day, unless dug out of the
ground, with few exceptions where
they came suddenly to a steep bank,
when one was in pursuit of another.
Until within ten years il was rule of
mine to destroy them whenever possible
and many time have stood in the hot
rays Of the sun watching for one, until
almost roasted, as il is in the hottest
part Of the day that they are mostly at
work
That they burrow under small plants
and disturb newly planted seeds is a
fact, and well known to annoy the gar
dener not little. But the question is
whether there are not insects in the
ground after which the moles are hunt
ing that do more damage to the plants
than the mole does?
For a number of wears l have left
them to take their own course, although
ii was sometimes necessary to go over
some of the grounds. and tramp down
their ridges to prevent plants from dy-
ing ont.
This is particularly necessary in straw
berry beds where the grubs are plenty.
Just SO long as one sees the work of the
moles going on, SO long are the grubs
at work on the roots Of the plants.
More than once have l seen strong
strawberry plant begin TO wilt and, and
notice mole hill near it. which on en-
animation proved that grub had been
at the plant and had eaten mos; Of the
roots off when the mole took him. Many
such plants recover that would be de-
stroyed il the mole was not about. i
could soon rid my grounds of moles.
and would give plan TO do il if were
not convinced that they are a benefit to
the cultiyator Of the soil. But there are
cases where the mole is nuisance for
the time being. and il requires little
trouble to keep them out. Ii is when a
bed of ground is prepared and delicate
seeds are sown, which they disturb.
This often happens when small patch
is first dug. where the surrounding soil
is hard, for they like TO work in mellow
soil. This can be prevented by setting
in slate. slabs of stone, OF bars or 10
inches deep, as they will seldom go be-
meath that.
ANY one who will take the trouble to
observe can notice that in ground that
has been kept perfectly clean Of all kinds
of grass and weeds for one yesr, that
there will be but few moles in il the next
season. The reason Of this is because
the insects In the perfect state does not
law its eggs on the bare ground: hence,
the moles have nothing to find. l have |
dwclt more lengthy on this subject than |
was intended, but think it is Of more
Importance than many suppose. Of one |
thing am certain. that the moles have
done me much more good than harm.
I doubt If ever they cut the root Of
p)ant, nAless Il Is TO make their way
tAyoaeh them, and mot that they feed
s16a a1lm. !