The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-09-24
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Prairie Squirrels.
pYJ. ROUSSEAU.

xHeSSrS. fSduofS ""' ga 'io"p'
lie. and want counsel. ! want som,
remedy against the internal little
thieying rascals yclept ''prairic
ground squirrels" The first piece
Of corn / planted this spring was
nearly all taken, the villainous little
striped sconndrels having wrought
assiduously from the time of plant
inc until after the seed was rotton
in the ground. This piece lrcplant-
ed with seed which | soaked for IL
hours in a strong detection of tobac-
co, afterwards rolling it in soft soap,
aud drying it with ashes. Well sir,
the result was that it was taken up,
believe to hill, and that in the
space ola day or two. SO soon as il
was planted, their tlieving hooks
ware at play, and at the end of the
above time not a seed could be found.
As for the remain Ter OF my crop,
there will not be enough corn left on
the ground to pay forplowing il once.
Now what is to be done? Accord
ing to "E." P. Farm. vol. 3, p,
"soft soap" and ashes are certain
preventives. All | have to say tc
that is, that have tried it ehectual-
", and it entirely failed, the corn be-
ing taken up just as badly as in some
planted besides it with clean unsoak.
ed seed. One lesson ! have learned,
however, and that is, never again to
suffer any persons signing his initial,
or any fictitious name, to "soit soap
me. Why not giveyour name, and
let people know who is responsible
for the matter? "Soit soap"
Humph! Well now | am fearful oil
depending on smoking the seed
fear that the pill vii! be no more
unple asant than soft soap. wisl
somebody would tell me of some plan
to extirminate the whole crew.
"Dig them up," says another cores
pondent. Well now that would be 4
good plan; but unfortunately | have
not an army of laborers, and | am
satisfied nothing else would do
"Fecd them corn under the brush
round the field, and then having fat
tened, next kill them," says another
Good advice. But how dye do it
How do you administer the medi-
cine ? Should no one give me bet,
ter plan, I'll tell you how | intend tc
serve the vagabonds. have num-
Der Of dead-falls that have been pref.
ty successful thus far. These near
to keep in constant use from now til
as long as | can catch any. shall
gather my seed corn of the first thai
ripens, and smoke it all winter and
spring. | shall pick some strych-
nine into the heart Of some corn, ant
drop kernal or two into the Ell.
trance of every hole | can find whicl
they inhabit. And | shall plant a:
early as the ground is fit. If any
body knows of better plan will be
very much obliged if he would give
it. If corn bear the present price:
another season, shall have lost $20t
or more by the little scratching ras.
Gals. have declared war, and it i.
one of determination. Either they
or ! must leave "these diggings."
Elm Grove, Iowa, Aug. lS47.
Below is similar complaint
The writer says:
81 have tried different remedies
First, | have made box traps and Sc
them when | commenced planting
and caught great many Of them
and have found this to be a partia
remedy, and very good as far as i
goes; but it requires considerable
care to attend upon them. Thi
year lhad two pieces OF ground t
plant with corn. The first, some Il
or 20 acres, l soaked my seed wit
strong blue vitriol water until it wa
almost sprouted, and then plante
it. The gopllers came on and woul
dig up hill, and then leave and g
in another place and dig another hill
and left it without doing much dam
age. But on my other ground the
commence and dig, and dig, and kee
digging, as though they were in cal
nest.--Prdirie Farmer.