The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-09
A TO GOPHERS.
4 Colorado Remedy That II 1 surs Thins
Every Ttims.

A Colorado RAmsdy That IL 1 surs ThIng
Every Time.
Oas o. The pests 10 which fnrtnsrs in
many paits Of the Wsst s's subjected Ii The
common ground squirrel, 90 familiar In
GallatIn county. Whsn suffered to brsed
unmolssted thsy inofsass u Nh alarming
rate, and their destructive powers are soms.
thing enormous. Thsv arc found in great
sst numbers IN she vicinity Of grain fields,
and the number Of Ions OF wheat and bar
10y consumed BY these dstsatable and Mt
tsrlv useless animals 10 something amazing.
4 single colony Of squirrels will frequently
infre qusnt sight 10 zee 4 strip twenty. Ave
or nifty feet wide along the entire extent Of
4 laras grain hsld cut dow ~ cleanly ~
clsanly ~ though by n machine, while the
well- beaten tall leading TO the great
mounds Of squirrel burrows show tho
agency By which the work was accom-
There are many methods OF killing ths
aquiGrels. . favorite one where irrigation 10
prAoticed being to divert q stream Of water
Into . burrow and let II run until che occu-
pants are all drowned ont. 6omstimss,
however. this 10 impraetioabls, for II not
stream viii be- run for hours into ! burrow
without any indication that II Il oiled up,
and without driving . single squirrel 10 the
susface. When . colony Ia drowned out.
however. tho number OF those that reauh
the surface and sndsavos to escape 10 some
II !quently !nhAbit the same burrow.
Tho most effective means Of destroying
these pesta 10 BY the use Of carbon bi-sul-
phide. One Of the officials Of the Colorado
agricultural college. who has been invsati-
eating the matter. gives the following In
structions for handling This remedy.
which no recommended o very efsosual
applying II whom handled with proper cau-
lion. The method Of applying il 10 take =
tightly rolled ball Of cotton the size Of a
hens egQ or smaller and thoroughly sat
urate u with the carbon bi-sulphids. With
= rolling motion throw the cotton into tho
bnr,Gw and close tho opening With sa''n.
simple and Tho result cersain. The carbon
bi-sulphide evaporates quickly, and the
vnpor, being heavier than air. soon flls tho
bntrow and smothsrs or ovsrcomss the
squirrels. The application should be made
in the evening Of shutdown, ~ the squirrels
are in their burrows nt this time and oan BE-
reached BY this method. All the burrows
In = n~oiRhborhood should bs treated At ths
same time 40 those CLOSE together often
connect. and whore but . few are treated
the squirrels can escape 70 those loft open.
When q thorough Job = made and every
bursov atoppsd up colonies will be almost
completely exterminatsd by . single appli-
cation.
Carbon bi-sulphide Is highly inAamma.
BILE and should never be brought near a
fire for fear Of an explosion. II 10 not
poisonous or corrosive 10 ths skin and may
DO handled with impunity. Avoid breath.
Ing II; the .vapo' 10 unwholesome. The
only danger ia when brought in tho pres
enoe Of Are; . lighted pipe. cigar or match
would in all probability cause an explos-
ion. Carbon bi-sulphids should be kept
from children and irresponsible persons, ~
they are liable to drink 1t, and the conse-
outlined il equally a. good for rats and
ants-in fact, al predatory animals Of
every kind living in the ground-aa IL 10
for the ground squirrels md prairie dogs.