Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 36, Number 32, 11 December 1910 — Page 6

PAGE OCX.

THE BICmiOXD F&IXJLDXU3I AXT 0UX-TELEGIIA31, STJXDAY DECEMBER 11, 1910.

EWIuEIlT UITII GROUND SQUIRRELS

Has Been Conducted by Uncle Sam With Very Interesting Results.

ENEMIES TO FARMERS

Little Animals Are Causing a Loss of $10,000,000 a Year, It Is Said.

BY RODERICK CLIFFORD. Washington. Dec. 10. One of the most Interesting experiments conducted by the department of agriculture Is described In the report of C. Hart Merriam. consulting biologist of the department, which treats' of the destructlrenesa of ground squirrels. These little animals are causing s loss to agriculture each year ot nearly $10,000,000. Some of the western states, the report says are over run by the animals. There are three genera and a dozen species, the most Important In Its relation to man being the large gray squirrel, known as the California digger, or Beechey ground squirrel. "It la about the site of an eastern gray tree squirrel." says Dr. Merriam, "and has upright ears and a long busby tall. It has two relatives, the Douglas ground squirrel, and Rocky mountain, or plateau ground squirrel. "The Beechey squirrel." continues Mr. Merriam, "Inhabits the open plain of the great Interior valleys of California, the grassy chapparal slopes of the foothills, the rocky walls ot canyons, and. In places the more open parts of the yellow ptne forests of the mountains. It lives in underground burrows, which usually are grouped la colonies. Where Colonies Are. The colonies may be located on bare open plains, on the slopes ot footbills, or about the roots of trees, particularly the great valley oaks with hollows In their trunks and limbs. The burrows vary In number from a few to hundreds, and by union of contiguous colonies sometimes reach a total of thousands, covering hundreds of acres. In places they are so near together as to honeycomb the ground. Veil beaten paths two or three Inches broad, lead from burrow to burrow, and radiate to adjacent feeding grounds. Many of them extend for considerable distances, and by intersecting, form. a network. The earth brought up from each burrow la doposited at Its mov& to form a gradually enlarging hillocks, and colonies

on the plain may be recognized at s distance by the mounds." The biologist says, the animals are diurnal, and In larger colonies may be seen at a time, some scudding swiftly over the ground, rolling in the dust, basking In the sunshine, or standing erect on their haunches, gating of the country or biting off the stems of grain, tarweed. or other plants on which they feed. The seeds are not eaten on the spot by the animal, but tucked away in Its cheek pouches, and carried to underground storehouses for future use. While mainly living on the ground the squirrels are good climbers, and are often seen In oaks and other nut bearing trees. They are not migrants in the proper sense ot the word, their journeys being limited to short distances, usually from one locality to a neighboring one. according to the season and fluctuations in the food supply. The cultivation of grain or other crops draws them from adjoining lands, and they become more abundant on cultivated lands than elsewhere. "The species do not hibernate," continues Mr. Merriam, "except in the foothills and valleys the animals usually stay in their burrows during stormy and severe weather. In the oak foothills, when the acorns are ripening in September and October these squirrels become fat and lazy, and may be seen about the mouths of their burrows enjoying the sunshine." Food of Squirrels. Through close observation It was found that the food of squirrels Includes according to season and locality, acorns, fruits, seeds of various plants, green herbage. Acorns are a favorite food, and where obtainable are gathered and stored in large quantities. Of cultivated nuts the little animals show decided preference for almonds and walnuts; of crops, apples, prunes, peaches, apricots, figs, olives, garden vegetables, the seeds of canteloupes, and watermelons. All grains are eaten. According to ooservatlons made by Mr. Merriam while in the field, ground squirrels carry acorns, olives, various seeds, grain and even green stuff from the places where they are gathered to their burrows in their ample cheek pouches. These supplies are stored away in caches, which " have been found to contain from a pint to a quart of oats, wheat or corn. "For these reasons," Mr. Merriam says, "It is seen that an animal so large, so abundant and generally distributed over the agricultural parts of the country, particularly the west Is capable ot inflicting serious losses, and when It is remembered that the squirrel feeds on all kinds of grains, fruits, vegetables and forage crops, vineyards and young orange groves, the magnitude of its depredations can be appreciated. Gnaw Young Shoots. "In the vineyards," be says, "the squirrels gnaw off the young shoots. At Irst they work chiefly along the

borders of the vineyard, proceeding inward as the detonate the Tinea, leaving , a sharp line of demarcation to show the progress of their invasion. "The principal money loss attributed to the ground squirrel results from their depredations on grain. They devour barley, wheat and oats. When the seed Is first sown, they dig: np and carry away the sprouting kernels. They invade the fields ot ripening grain, and feast upon it continuously until harvest time, and when it Is cut and stacked, concentrate about the stacks, eating all they can, and laboring tirelessly to carry the remainder to their underground storehouses. . When operating in the grain fields these little pests first clear off the grain around the borders ot the field cutting a swath 40 or 60 feet in width. They then establish colonies of burrows In various parts ot the field. One ot the most serious injuries inflicted by the squirrels Is from their habit of burrowing In embankments. In the flat country, they seek elevations from which they can better ob

serve the approach ot their enemies. Dikes, levees, roadways and embankments of all kinds attract them and are often ruined by their burrows. With all ot their faults, however, ground squirrels are good to eat, and a few years ago were regularly sold in the markets of the western states. They have always been highly prized by the Indians, who roast them over the coals and devour them eagerly. To bring about an extermination of these animals, and save millions of dollars annually to the agriculturist.

the department of agriculture has advocated a system of poisoning the squirrels. The department suggests that the "most effective and least expensive way to destroy the pest is by grain poisoned with strychnine.

HILL ROSES MADE A DECIDED "HIT"

Eastern florists were more than pleased with the new rose creations by E. G. Hill of this city, who has been In the larger cities of the east during the week making exhibits. The roses are "Sunburst", and "Rose Queen," the oldest stock of which is now three years old. ' This is the first season that the plants have been on exhibit and wherever they have been shown, the experts have prononunced them superior to anything of the kind ever grown.

DECLARED INSANE George Woodward, a prominent farmer residing near Ossian, Ind, has been declared of unsound mind and application has been made for his admission to Eastbaven hospital.

AEROPLANE SPEED RECORD IS BROKEN (American News Service) ; Paris, Dec. 10. Flying at 1 an altitude of nearly five thousand feet Captain Bellanger ot the French army covered a hundred - mile aeroplane night from Vincennes to IConrmelon. in seventy minutes today. He established the amazing record ot averaging eighty six miles per hour. A strong wind from the rear assisted him -greatly. The former record was sixty-one miles an hour by Claude GrahameWhite. ,

A CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION SOON A civil service examination is announced for Richmond on January 7 to select a postmaster for Webster.

GOVERNOR

HARMON

WILLBEPRESEIIT Will Attend the Big Democratic Banquet at Baltimore, on January 17. (American Newt Servlc) Washington, D. C, Dec. 10. Governor Harmon of Ohio, today told Senators Rayner and Smith ot Maryland he would attend the Democratic banquet at Baltimore, January l?th. Bryan, who it is understood, is to oppose the suggestion of Harmon as the available candidate for the presidential nomination in 1912, also Invited Gov

ernor-elect Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey and other presidential possi-j bllities. The Baltimore banquet andj conference is to be held at the armory j of the Fifth regiment, two thousand Invitations being issued. The dinner list includes every Democratic gov-1 ernor and governor-elect, senator and: senator-elect, representative and rep-J resentative-elect, members of the j Democratic national committee, state chairmen and distinguished men ot the party in private life. It is understood the keynote speeches to be made will outline and shape the policy of the party in the house when the next con gress convenes with the Democrats iaj control, and will initiate the campaigo of 1912. !

Bar yon troabl of ar Wo- ariamr trass a disordered atomach? Go to tout dractlat wa nt t Sfc orU bottte ot Dr. CiMmU'i Syrup Peseta, which la poaiuvaivgaaraatsedt ure roa na ksep yoa wU.

PROSECUTOR CALLED KNIERIM A COWARD John ' Knlerlm, tried yesterday for assault and battery, on Edward Decker the 10th of November, in an alleged strike riot, was painted by Assistant Prosecutor Ray Sniveler, as a dastardly coward, who deliberately and maliciously tried to permanently Injure Decker. The trouble occurred at HenBley's saloon on Main street. Following Sniveler's statement the defendant was 5 and costs.

POOR FARM INMATE'S LAST WISH OBSERVED Bloomington. Ind., Dec. 10. Just a short time before her death at the county poor farm Mrs. Villa Scott, 86, begged members of the local charity association to see that her body was not sent to the medical college. Relatives at a distance when notified of the demise of the aged woman, refused to pay any part of the funeral expenses and the local charity board met her last wishes.

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