OTHER PESTS
Gophers.—These often do great damage to the trees by girdling them just below the surface of the ground, or if they do not actually girdle the trees, they cut them enough to devitalize them and, in addition, the wounds made by their gnawings frequently become infected with crown-gall organisms. The only safe means of control is the constant use of traps supplemented by poisoned bait.
Squirrels.—Squirrels are very troublesome, as they harvest a large amount of almonds before they are sufficiently ripe to be harvested by the grower. The use of poisoned grain or “gas,” if used over a large area of surrounding territory, will prevent serious depredations.
Birds.—Birds also carry off large amounts of almonds if the orchards are near open country or hills, especially if wooded. Crows, bluejays, blackbirds, yellow-hammers, robins and other similar birds are the worst offenders. Sometimes linnets eat off large numbers of fruit buds in the spring in a few of the newer sections where plantings are scattered. Sap-suckers have been known to girdle entire trees or large branches by cutting large numbers of holes in a series of lines close together around the trunk or limbs.
Morning-glory.—This is probably the worst of the weeds in almond orchards, and is the hardest to control. Sheep and chickens may be used with excellent results, provided care is taken to see that the sheep are not allowed to go hungry, for then they will bark the trunks of the trees very quickly. An excellent plan is to arrange gates so that the sheep must go through the orchard from pasture to get water. In passing back and forth they will forage over the entire orchard and dig up all the morning-glory in sight. Chickens are fond of the succulent new shoots, and will keep them below the ground until the underground stems and roots weaken and die. Cultivation throughout the growing season, often enough to prevent the morning-glory from developing any leaves for a whole year at least, and longer if necessary, will starve the plants to death.