White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-03
for tBe farmer.
how TO Kxterminate Gouhers.

We have frequently been asked fol
some method to exterminate gophers
We know to our sorrow the vast amount
of injury that they cause upon the farm
and garden. Indeed there is no pest that
will compare with them. In examining
hedge, not long since. that we planted
two years ago, we found that the gopher.
had bored Immediately under the hedge,
cutting off every plant, in some places,
forty or fifty yards in length. The plants
still stood upright, but upon taking hold
of them and pulling slightly. the plant
would come up, with the root eaten square
of. We have lost many fruit trees in
the same manner. In the garden they
are very destructive. They viii follow
q row Of peas soon after planting, and
not leave one in the row. They are also
very destructive in meadows. Some
times they entirely prevent the use of the
moving machine, in cutting the grass,
by raising almost myrisds of hillocks
throughout the field. In our own State,
| missouri, or at least in many parts oil
it, we know that they are doing an in
calcuable amount of injury annually. The
question now is, which is the best method
to get rid Of them Will our readers
who have had experience in exterminat-
ing them give us, through the Valley
Farmer, their plan for determination
II they will give an efectual method,
they will be entitled to the warm thanks
of thousands of farmers, who are greatly
suffering by them. We have standing
offer of 25cts. for every scalp that is found
on our premises. We will give some oil
the methods that we have heard Of, and
some that we have practiced of extermin-
ating them-but if cur readers know Of
any better method, by all means let us
have it. 1t is said that some farmers
have driven them Of, by buying box OF
two of rotten herring, and drop the her
ring in their paths, and they will speedily
leave. Rotten Goldfish we presume would
have the same effect
Another plan is to open hole in the
side of the hillock which it has been re-
Gently formed, and the gopher will soon
bring dirt enough to fill up the hole
which you have made, when you can
shoot it. They make mounds sometimes,
of considerable size, 1--WE have seen them
from two to three feet high, and from fif-
teen to twenty feet in diameter, which
they inhabit in body when the ground
is full Of water, and then they may be
dug out.
They are frequently caught in glazed
jars, or steel traps. in the following man
ner. A hole is dug foot deep or more,
under their burrows, and the jar is sunk
in his hole, and covered with leaf of
cabbage, piece of paper, or ething
of the kind. Then cover the burrow
with piece of plank, leaving it open,
anil when the gopher passes it win step
on the covering of the jar, and fall in it
the jar being smooth it cannot get out.
They are taken in trap as follows: The
burrow is opened about foot wide, and
a common rat trap is placed on the bot
tom and set, and then covered with fine
earth. The burrow is then covered with
a plank-a passage being left open for
the gopher, and the light excluded, by
covering with fine earth, and when the
gopher passes, its weight springs the trap
and it is caught. The boys can soon be
taught to do this properly, and the offer
of dime, or a quarter for each one
taken, will be a sufficient inducement
for them to prosecute their labors with
laudable exertion. Pieces of potatoes,
apples or anything that they are fond Of.
may be poisoned with strychnine, and
placed in their burrow We believe corn
meal may.also be used for the same pur-
pose. But we have penned this article
more for the purpose of drawing out the
experience of our readers in regard to
them than for any other Valley
Farmer.