Mole Control.........1952......!

[Rolfe 2]

I have just been reading a letter replying to a mole control question in a 1952 edition of a magazine called "Country Fair" ( Priced 2/6d in old money ) I had never heard of this method before but i could see it working.

This is What the Letter Said:

Dig through the mole hill to the underground channel, put into it a handful or two of ordinary Carbide (the old bicycle lamp variety) and replace the soil lightly and the fumes will gas the mole. ( Our local garage keeps a supply of Carbide )

 

I can see it working in a similar fashion to Aliminium Phosphide as it would be moisture activated.........hopefully not as dangerous though. Has anyone ever heard of this method before as i certainly hadn't?

 

Rolfe.

[heart of wales 19]

Watched a programme on recently called Super mole,showed what a mole did underground when confronting gas

No wonder aluminium phosphide is hit and miss

Just taken another job of someone using this Caught fourteen moles already in an area that had previously been treated remains of the tablets were still visible.

[earth-thrower 494]

Hello again mate,I was once loaned a book (you may have heard of it)titled 'Fenland molecatcher'by Arthur Randell.At the end of one of the chapters,i remember him describing how he gets letters from people, asking the best ways of ridding their gardens of moles.He tells them to put a couple of bits of carbide in the runs.Id never heard of it before either,and im still not sure what it really is!

[Rolfe 2]

Hello again mate,I was once loaned a book (you may have heard of it)titled 'Fenland molecatcher'by Arthur Randell.At the end of one of the chapters,i remember him describing how he gets letters from people, asking the best ways of ridding their gardens of moles.He tells them to put a couple of bits of carbide in the runs.Id never heard of it before either,and im still not sure what it really is!

 

Pinched this from the internet.........The last section I found interesting as it can produce Phosphide.........so maybe it would have worked after all.

 

Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of CaC₂. The pure material is colorless, however pieces of technical grade calcium carbide are grey or brown and consists of only -85% of CaC2(the rest is CaO, Ca3P2, CaS, Ca3N2, SiC, etc.). Because of presence of PH3, NH3, and H2S it has very unpleasent smell. Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide.^[2]

 

. Impurities present in the carbide include phosphide, which produces phosphine when hydrolysed.^[3]

[comanche 3,295]

I think carbide has been put to a few interesting uses. I'm pretty sure that the old BFFS Rabbiting book mentioned using it to bolt rats .

My uncle recently bought some as he has restored an old bicycle complete with acetylyne lamps .

Caving suppliers sometimes stock it as is still used to provide light underground .

[Rolfe 2]

I think carbide has been put to a few interesting uses. I'm pretty sure that the old BFFS Rabbiting book mentioned using it to bolt rats .

My uncle recently bought some as he has restored an old bicycle complete with acetylyne lamps .

Caving suppliers sometimes stock it as is still used to provide light underground .

 

Yes i understand it is still available.........and as you say cavers like to use it for the light it gives off. I would just wonder if it broke any rules or regulations if it were used against moles...........bound to contravene some act or another for sure.

[comanche 3,295]

I think carbide has been put to a few interesting uses. I'm pretty sure that the old BFFS Rabbiting book mentioned using it to bolt rats .

My uncle recently bought some as he has restored an old bicycle complete with acetylyne lamps .

Caving suppliers sometimes stock it as is still used to provide light underground .

 

Yes i understand it is still available.........and as you say cavers like to use it for the light it gives off. I would just wonder if it broke any rules or regulations if it were used against moles...........bound to contravene some act or another for sure.

I suppose it would be using a non-approved substance and would certainly render any insurance invalid if used in a professional capacity . I know what you mean though . You just know that some of these old countryman's tips are a load of Billhooks but once in a while one comes to light that seems quite viable and we have to fight-off the urge to "know" for sure .