RK-216

Winchester Scott co Ill Mr Robert Kennicott Dear Sir In the P. F. of Dec 11^th/56 are some questions by you in regard to the grand State of Ills. that I could answer if I. could see you. but as that is out of the question I will make my first attempt in this line with the pen But in what, counties does it exist Ans. in Scott near the centre ^{of Ills.} and the adjoining counties Where most abundant: Ans. in timber fields On high or low grounds? Ans. on high Is it found at all in swamps Ans: not in this section ^{of county} section In estimating the damage done on a farm the only consideration is the replanting as the season is so long that a crop is seldom or never lost as Moles tak but one planting in field [illegible] In following rows of corn it keeps so straight ahead as to destroy only ^hill for 10 or 15 rods perhap more What means used to destroy it? None: Means used to prevent its ravages, ans. Plowing the corn both ways as soon as possible Is the Mole social? Do not know, How many young are produced and when & where Six years since I hauled some lime to be used in building and put it in a rough box near the Corn. Some time in February a Pointer Dog dug a pair of Moles out from under the box of Lime and the female being so large I thought I woud open her, did so and found a pair nearly ready to be produced: as they were completely covered ^with fur and in proportion to the size of the

mother must have been near this birth. As this is my only experience on this part of Moles: do not know as they always produce ^pairs[double underline] [illegible] The nest was very neatly made of corn silks and must have been taken nearly 30 feet under ground: but as they were dug out could not tell how large the chamber was. nor how made Of the remaining questions I can only ^answer 2 or 3 In searching for food in summer they sometimes graze along at a depth of 18 ⁱⁿ to two feet What voice have they? it squeak (quite faint) And now if you give me a call next September I will show you sweet potatoes which if the Moles have not eaten apart of have at least gnawed in pieces to get ^them [illegible] out of theire way [over this paragraph is a drawing - a square with an x in the center] sometime a row several rods long will look flourishing untill just before digging when not a whole potato can be found. In regard to squirrels mentioned in the last P.F. Jan'y ^8th they are plenty in this section but it would be very difficult to obtain a live one before spring as the old ones are very shy but young ones are taken by the boys about here every ^spring spring. If there is any information in this I shall be pleased if not please use it in lighting the fire. If you are still cultivating [illegible] Evergreens please send me a price catalogue if you can Yours Faithfully Dec 12^th 1857 L.C. Flanders

West Northfield Ill Jan 23^d Miss Alice Kennicott or Robert Kennicott Care of - Dr P. R. Hoy Racine [Appears to be a line through address information] Wisconsin [On left edge of page] Flanders mole [Marked rectangle with cross in center]