Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1917 — DESTROYING RODENT PESTS ON THE FARM [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DESTROYING RODENT PESTS ON THE FARM

(Prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture,) The plains marmot, or prairie dot, is widely distributed on the plains east of the Rocky mountains, from northern Mexico almost to-the Canadian border. Several other forms ocoupy the mountain, valleys, and parks westward. All live. in thickly populated .colonies, or “towns,” aad subsist on- vegetation. They often take fully half the pasturage oh the ranges and greatly reduce the carrying-capacity for live stock. Several Westerp states have attempted to provide for the extermination of prairie dog^«th rough, legislation enactments; and, dn some of them, notably Kansas,-.the pest has greatly decreased. Within the national forests settlers have complained of inability to cope with the animals, because their lands when freed froqi prairie dogs are reinfested from the surrounding government lands. For this reason and for range he department of agriculture, has undertaken systematic extermination work within the .forests and hgs. already succeeded in freeing large areas of these animals. Trapping Is too slow a method of extermlnating fumigation tatoo expensive. As in the case of ground squirrels, strychnine has proved to be the most satisfactory poison. Oats of the best quality obtainable should he; used as bait, it-has been found that prairie dogs take this grain readily, even when green food is abundant. Wheat is well adapted' for Winter poisoning, and in the South, where heavy oats are rarely obtainable, ffillomaize of ffeterlta is an excellent substitute. Mix thoroughly 1 ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid) and 1 ounce of common baking soda (bicarbonate). Dissolve- 1 heaping tablespoonftil of dry laundry staretf in a little cold wa-

ter and add it to three-fourths pint of boiling water. Boil and stir until a thin, clear paste is formed. Slowly sift : the mixture of strychnine and soda into the starch paste, stirring constantly to form a smooth, creamy mass. Add one-fourth pint of' heavy corn sirtip and 1 tablespoonful of glycerin, and stir. Add one-tenth ounce of saccharine, and again stir thoroughly. Pour this mixture while still hot over 13 quarts of clean oats, and mix until all the grain is coated. If allyilold strychnine is not available, the sulphate may be used, either powdered or in crystals, but it is necessary.to vary the formula. Dissolve the strychnine In the boiling water before adding the cold starch solution. After the polsoaed slarcfepastejs clear, stir in the soda very slowly. Afterwards add the sirup, glycerin and saccharine as in the a.bove directions and mix with the grain. For mixing small quantities an ordinary tnetal washtub is convenient. For large quantities a tight, smooth box may be used, and the mixing done with a hoe or spade. Each quarf of the prepared grain is sufficient to treat about fifty prairiedog burrows. Scatter the grain on clean, hard ground near the mounds or burrows, never on loose soil or in holes, With, reasonable care, cattle, sheep, or other dive stock on the range wilt not be endangered. This poison is effective at any season when prairie dogs are active', but, on the whole, early spring or a time of drought, wjien grejen food is scarce. Is preferred for poison operations. In the South, or wherever the animals do not hibernate, winter poisoning is recommended. The cost of complete extermination of the animals, including -tabor,- need not exceed four or five cents an acre.

BADGER—USEFUL IN DESTROYING RODENTS.