Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-03-23
These or the soil dry, the gases are dissipated
THE POCKET GOPHER.

BY having the roots cut off. These
mounds also prevent close moving, SO
that much of the hay crop Is lost,
while the pebbles they contain often
break or injure farm machinery. The
loss due to gopher mounds in the clover
and alfalfa fields in some of the West
ern states has been conservatively esti-
mated at one-tenth of the entire crop.
In many of the fertile valleys where
gophers abound they are by far the
most formidable of the farmers amin
al enemies.
Pocket gophers may be destroyed by
poison, by traps, and by the use of car
bon bisulphid.
Poisoning Pocket Cophers.'
Poisoning with strychnine is the
most effective means known for killing
these little animals, and, as it involves
the least expenditure of money and
sabor. the Biological Survey recon-
NERDS 1t for general use. AS rodent
poist. to be used by farmers, strych-
nine has several advantages. Its act
ion Is sure, it's deadly character is
known to most persons, and its bitter
taste Is an additional safeguard against
mistaking it for a harmless dr'g.
Strychnia sulphate is the most conven-
lent form of the poison, since it isl
freely soluble in hot water and in the
natural juice of vegetables used as bait.
To disguise it's bitterness so that ro-
dents may not be deferred from eating
the bats, sugar is often employed, or
the strychnine may be mixed with its
own bulk of commercial saccharine. |
A sugar syrup poisoned with strych- |
nine may be used with excellent re-
suits. 1t is prepared as follows:
Dissolve an ounce of strychnia sui
phate in pint of boiling water Add
q pint of thick sugar syrup, and stir
thoroughly. The syrup is usually
scented by adding few drops of oil
of anise, but this is not essential. If
preserved in a closed vessel, the syrup
will keep indefinitely.
The above quantity Is sufficient to
poison a half bushel of shelled corn or
other grain (corn recommended), the
cereal being stepped in hot water and
allowed to soak over night. 1t is then
drained and soaked for several hours
in the poisoned syrup. Before using,
corn meal may be added to take up the
excess of moisture.
Dry crystals of strychnine also may
be used. They are introduced by
means of a knife, into small pieces Of
potato, carrot. or sweet potato, or into
entire raisins or dried prunes. A sin
gle large crystal Cor several small
ones) is enough for each bait. Raistns
are especially recommended because
they are easily handled and contain
enough sugar to disguise the bitter
ness of the poison.
The prepared bats are placed in the
underground runways of the gophers
and are conveniently handled with a
spoon. A stout dibble is used to make
holes into the runways. Having To-
Gated the ranways by use of the dibble,
1t is moved from side to side to make
the soil firm about the hole, and then
withdrawn. A piece of the poisoned
potato or raisin or a teaspoonful of
the poisoned corn is dropped into the
hole which is left open. Some farmers
prefer to cover the holes, but the exper-
fence of the Agriculture Department
is against such practice.
By this method little labor is neces-
sary, and the operator soon acquires
skill In finding the runways The bait
should be placed in the main runways
and not in the short laterals near the
mounds. If placed in the laterals, the
animals are likely to cover it with
soil or throw it out without finding
It. A skillful operator can go over 20
to 40 acres of badly infested land in
a day, and, II the work is carefully
done at time when the pocket gophers