The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1918-01-11
SHIELD TREES FROM
RABBITS IN WINTER
When Vegetable Food Is Not
Available They Often Harm
Trees by Eating Bark.
{By D. c. MOORING.)

Rabbits are very particular as to
what they eat, and feed only on vege-
table matter. They prefer the more
succulent kinds, such as vegetables,
clover, alfalfa, fallen fruit, etc. When
none Of these foods are available they
often eat the bark of trees, especially,
when snow covers other food.
1t is very easy to prevent rabbits
from injuring trees, and all cases Of
damage are due to neglect rather than
to lack of efficient remedies. A
number Of preventives, all Of which
are efficacious, IRE given below.
Your premises should not afford
hiding places for rabbits, such as briar
patches, brush piles, etc. This Is not
meant to include green cover crops
in the orchard; as is stated above.
green and succulent food Is preferred
by the rabbits and an orchard with
a cover crop above the snow Is seldom
If ever injured.
Traps are very effective in catching
rabbits. The more traps you have, so
much the better. This Is not so eco
nomical a method as poisoning for
protecting the trees, but it furnishes
amusement for the children and also
provides some meat for the table.
There are two general ways Of pol
soning rabbits, namely: ~ by plac-
ing poisoned water In their runs, espe-
cially during dry weather; (2) by
placing poisoned food where they can
get it. The following, which was
originally recommended by the Ohio
Experiment station, has given good
satisfaction: One part sulphate of
strychnia, one-third part borax. one
part white syrup, ten parts water.
Shake well and apply to tender twlgs
with brush or by dipping, and dlstrib-
ute the poisoned twigs around the
trees.
Where the planting Is valuable
enough to justify the expense. q
woven wire fence is desirable. as 1t
will exclude the rabbits
Wire window screening Is frequent
~ used and Is cut into strips Is to
1 "a inches long and 8 to ~ inches wide,
This Is put around the trunks Of the
trees In the form of tubes, with the
lower end pressed into the ground
This tube Is tied with wire.
Wooden veneer strips of about the
same dimensions as the wire screen
give good results. They should be
soaked in water before attempting to
fold them around the trunk Of the
tree. Wire Is best for tying them, as
1t Is durable and does not necessitate
renewing.
Corn stalks, building paper, and
common wrapping paper are some Of
the other things frequently used. They
are eficaci0us II applied In such 9
manner that they prevent the rabbi
from getting his mouth to the bark o.
the trees.
There have been q number o.
washes and paints Of various kind'
recommended as being effective agains
rabbits. The disadvantage Of thes'
washes IL that heavy rains wash then
of and make 1t necessary to repea
the application. It Is not difficult t.
ind or devise preparations which will
particular about their food and an,
faint on the tree will keep them from
injuring 1t. On this account hog In
testines and other cheap meat prod
ucts rubbed on the trees have givel
good results. They will be effective a
long as the faint remains ON the ire
and no longer.
Another wash, which has given con
siderable satisfaction. Is made by slak
ing one peck of fresh stone lime witt
soap suds. Thin to the consistency o
. whitewash. add one-half gallon o
, crude carbolic acid. four pounds o
sulphur and one gallon of soft soar
Paint the trunks Of the trees. as be
fore, In the autumn.
The United States Department o
Agriculture recommends the lime
sulphur wash ~ having given thor
ottkhlg satisfactory results This was