The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1912-01-30
ADVICE Of OR(nARDIST.
Watch Your Fruit Trees for Work Of
Rodents.

Idaho Is thought by some prospec-
tive Orchardists as a state OF sage
brush, wind, sand and rodents. All OF
these 1t is true can be found in Idaho,
but not SO numerous as to be detri-
mental to first class horticulture. This
state Is being rapidly set out to fruit
and 1t Is destined to be one of the
greatest producing states OF deciduous
fruits in the union.
OF all rodents detrimental to fruit
trees, the common jack rabbit and field
mouse are the most injurious found In
Idaho. The damage these animals do
is seen here and there on fruit trees of
all kinds, especially upon young trees.
it is reported from the Ohio expert
ment station, that that state suffers
annually loss of over two hundred
thousand dollars from bark-eating
rodents. These animals are pressed
for food at this time Of year, hence,
they seek the orchards more at this
time than any other. The damage that
they do is from stripping the brak
from young trees and in many cases,
completely girding them, causing their
death or necessitating bridge grating
the following spring. 1t is not difficult
as any one knows, to see above the
snow line, the injury which the jack
rabbit inflicts, but 1t is the girding of
trees under the snow line, by small
rodents which harbor in various kinds
of cegetative matter found at the base
of trees where clean cultivation is not
annually practiced
The writer was in one orchard last
winter, where every trees had been
completely girdled by the jack rabbit
This ND had icb{
around 1t, neither was the owner in
the immediate ncighborhood, hence the
loss of this orchard In another or
chard was noticed at this same period,
the work of field mice under the snow
This orchard was ten years old and
has been in sod for the last ten years.
The owner had not the least idea that
any girdling of his trees was taking
place at this time until he made an in
spection. 1t is always a good idea to
see that the ground about the trees for
radius OF one or two feet, Is broken
in the fall and vegetation is removed
to destroy the inducement for these
rodents to winter over there A trip
through the orchard, by the owner,
with an ordinary shovel for removing
the snow will soon reveal the presence
of such animals at the base of the tree.
Such a tour of inspection should be
taken several times month during
the dormant period.
There are several mixtures used for
repelling the jack rabbit and other
rodents, but all have their disadvant-
ages. A rabbit tight fence is the most
satisfactory thing against the jack rab-
bit in this state, but If snow drifts
against the fence and freezes, it is not
difficult for jack rabbits to get over
this. Prof Ballon, of Ohio, gives the
following formula as an effective
wash to protect fruit. trees from in
jury by rabbits, sheep and mice. It is
made as follows: Stake one peck of
fresh stone lime with old soap suds,
thinning to the consistency of white
wash. For the one peck of lime, add
one-half gallon of crude carbolic acid,
four pounds of sulphur and one gallon
of soft soap. Paint the trunks of trees
with this in late autumn-W. H.
Wicks, Horticulturist, Idaho Expert
ment Station.