The herald., 1893-11-19

The Wyoming experiment station in
lllstin No 12 speaks of the ground
luirrsls or gophers doing large amount
damage. Some extracts are given
ith the hope that they will be OF ser
ce to our farmers:
'The methods Of destroying these
\ ,sts are numerous. Many drown them
oit of their burrows and then kill them.
his is long and tedious method. /
ave seen water running from an irri-
ating ditch into one of the burrows for
z alf a day, and it seemed as though an
aGher half day would have been suf1i-
6 ent to have filed the burrow. Then
.ain, in this region. water is often diff
.ult to obtain. 1t would in many in
( ances have to be drawn in barrels or
.nks for perhaps half mile or further.
MANY rsnchmen and gardeners nse
I rychnine, rough on rats, arsenic and
{ her poisonous substances. Usually
,rn or some kind of grain is soaked in
) solution of one Of these poisons and is
len placed near their burrows. This
ethod has in some instances been sat
factory. There is this danger arising
ON the practice of such a method;
,ock, poultry and the wild birds are as
able to get the grain as the squirrels.
"During the summer OF 1882, q num-
" of experiments, having in view the
sstruction of these squirrels, was car
ed on upon the Laramie experiment
rm. For this purpose a quantity OF
-sulphide of carbon was used. This
luid is highly infammable and should
,ver be brought near fire, for fear of an
.plosion. 1t is not poisonous or cor
sive to the skin, and may be handled
ith impunity. Avoid breathing it;
ne vapor is unwholesome. The only
niger ia when brought in the presence
2 firs-a lighted pipe. cigar or match
ould in all probability cause an explo-
On. Bi-sulphide OF carbon should be
,pt from children and irresponsible
arsons, ae they are liable to drink it,
Id the consequence might be serious.
ae unpleasant odor 10 easily and read |
detected and by observing the proper |
ecaution, no danger need be feared. |
le method OF applying is to take ball
cotton, about the size of an egg, and
oroughly saturate it with the BIZ
ilphide of carbon. One farmer in Ne
asks, in writing about the method of
oplying it, says that he uses the dried
lis OF horse manure and finds that
ey do equally we'll and are of less ex-
mss, and can be easily obtained. He
lds that they readily absorb the BIZ
lphide of carbon. With rolling mo-
IN throw the cotton into the burrow
d close the opening with some earth.
ie operation ls simple and the result
rtain. The bi-sulphide of carbon eva
rates rapidly, and being heavier than
+, soon fills the 6urrow aro smorners 7
overcomes the squirrels.
"The application should be made in
9 evening, at sundown, as the squir-
Ia are in their burrows at this time
d the material will not be wasted. A
at of this liquid will be sufficient to
sat 20 burrows.
"On the Laramie experiment farm 96
rrows were tested during the month
July. The applications were, with
" exceptions, made in the evening.
ie next dav the treated burrows were
sited, and in no instance had the earth
lich had been used for plugging the
ening been disturbed. A second and
ird visit to these burrows found them
curely plugged. In two instances some
,imal, presumably a ground squirrel,
ID made an effort to dig open the bur
W from the outside. The opening ex-
nded only to the ball of cotton, when,
I'm all appearances, the task was given
}. In AZ instances gophers were driven
seen going into the burrows. These
ire treated at once, and, fortunately,
me were opened. 1t is safe to con.
lde that none of them returned to the
rface."