The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-22
PEST or TIE PRAIRIE DcGs.

Farmers I'm Western Kansas have or
their hands a new plague, that OF the
prairie dog. Thousands of the odd lit
tie creatures have been captured and
taken East for show purposes. but ths
people OF the plains have come TO con-
slider them a nuisance. II is no unus-
ual thing to see town that is coll
lection of holes all inhabited by the
dogs. which covers whole section or
land, a space a mile square. As a re-
suit the vegetation is eaten down to
the earth bare, and the land becomes
valueless for the cattlenVn. Then the
animals make foraging trips into the
grain near by and cause much damage
in that way, says the Chicago Inter-
Ocean.
The prairie dog Is small, scarcely lar
ger than a very large lat sometimes,
but he il "A very keen-witted creature.
When the growth or grain or grass
seems likely 70 cause MIN trouble in
seeing approaching visitors he straight
way proceeds TO cut it down. ell goes
into the mlilet and corn fields and nib
bles at the grain near the bottom ot
the stalks, and the tall grain tumDles
as ii il were cut by n machine. The
cuts but seems to wish bt out OF the
way in order that the lookouts posted
around in every town may see l1 stran-
gers are approaching.
j. Il. Perry of ODerlin. one OF the
leading farmers OF Northwest Kansas,
tells Of his experience In tn1s manner.
Il bad town OF two sections on my
land. and there was SO steady growth
that / was in danger Of losing the most
valuable part OF the farm. the pasture
was ruined and the grains adjoining
the town on two sides were destroyed
far into the fields. 4 soaked lot or
corn In arsenic solution and then went
along the town with my hired men TAX
ing regular beats until we had gone
over IL all. putting i'm each hole a small
portion of the poisoned grain. we COW
cred the holes as We went along, lne
task bslng SLOW one, TO be sure, pu,
thorough. The animals seemed TO ear
the grain. for out or the Town ,uay
two-thirds Of the holes were never
opened. The dogs ate the corn ana
died i'm their homes. Then we went
over the land again, and went throush
the same process, and by this time
killed Oft the greater portion OF tne
dogs remaining. l found IT the only
way to get rid OF them, and though it
will be a long time before the land is is
good as before. because OF the poor
earth that was brought TO the surface
by the digging OF the animals. IL VIII
eventually regain its strength.
Another method OF treating the pests
Is TO use bisulphide OF carbon, saturat-
ing a piece OF cotton with the fluid and.
dropping ft in the hole. which is then
covered. The gases from the solution
make the animals scarce in short
time. With this remedy there is dang
er Of poisoning other animals and the
farmers are afraid of 1t. Strychnine
solution and corn are a common, conf
bination and this Is dropped in the
holes as before
The farmers OF Northwest Kansas
are considering convention 10 discuss
the best and surest means or getting
rid OF the pests. The theory that the
sand hill owl is a dweller in the hole
with the prairie dog and there exists
happy family arrangement between
them is dlsproved by frequent investl-
cation. Tho owls live in deserted holes
sometimes az do the rattlesnakes Of the
uplands. But they are not at home when
the snappy little prairie dog is maxi
ing himself numerous.