Casgliadau Arlein

A letter and sketch from W. Davies (Pontardawe) of the 'home made mouse trap known as the figure 4 trap... My late father who died in 1943 aged 73 started his gardening career in 1885 at 14 yrs of age in the gardens of the late Howell Gwyn at Dyffryn, near Neath, and lodged with the Head Game-keeper Charles Eldrich who showed him how to make and set this trap under an ordinary brick. This method was used by my father all his life, and now used by myself. These figure 4 traps were set along rows of peas and beans as a rule, and I have never known them to fail. Although retired myself now from gardening as my living, I still use this trap in my own garden..' (see James A. Bateman, Animal Traps and Trapping, (1971), pp. 161-162.)