Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-03
Isstrsllsi r,elsi sspl,rs

The farming increase 10 the mum. |
Der Of pocket gophers the past season |
and their rapid spread to new terri.
tory calls for more persistent and con.
certed action on the part Of farmers
in the infested districts ofthe State. |
This press bulletin will be followed
BY a fuller treatment Of the subject 10
a regular bulletin Of the station now
ready tor the printer 1t is hoped that |
those who are interested in the mat.
ter will send in their names to the
department unless they are already on
on the regular mailing list Of the Col
lege We have tao species Of the poe.
ket gopher to contend with in Kansas
but, as their habits and method Of at
tack on cultivated crops are very SIM
liar, the same general discussion and
recommendations will apply to both.
The prairie pocket gopher is the large
and darker colored species. 1t is com
mon over eastern and central Kansas
as tar west as the ninety eight meri
dian. Correspond, nee and numerous
trips 10 alllparts Of the range during
the past few years have developed
the fact that the species is rapidly in.
creasing, largely on account Of the
increase in acreage Of alfalfa. The
area Of greatest infestation includes
the valley Of the Kaw and the regions
drained by the lower courses of its
main trlbutaries-lhe Blue, Republi.
can, Solomon, and Smoky Hill. In
southeastern Kansas the pest seems to
be giving little trouble as yet. The
plains pocket gopher occupies the
western third oil the state, perhaps in.
tergrading with the eastern sqecies on
the common bOrde' Of their respective
territories 1t also ranges down the
Arkansas valley for some distance be.
low the great bend. The species show
color adaptation to the lighter sandy
soil Of the region. 1t throws up small.
er mounds Of earth than the eastern
form.
While the interests Of the potato
grower, truck grower and orchardist
suffer somewhat from the depreciation
OF the pocket gopher, it is the alfalfa
raiser who has the most grounds for
complaint. That crop furnishes the
idea conditions Of an easy life for the
gopher. The ground is not plowed up
for a number Of years, and the roofs
Of the plant ale thick ard succulent.
penetrating also deep into the soil,
where they may be reached by the
burrowing animal even in midwinler.
A neglected alfalfa field may be prao-
tically ruined in season or two.
More recently, so, prairie meaooN
and pastures have been invaded unit
some Of them have the appearance Of
being. plowed up,
Busy. at any season Of the year, the
pocket gopher is most active in the
late fall and early spring. In the
month Of October and November
particularly, the whole tribe adopts
the strenuous life. The nearly grown
young are rapidly extending their bur-
rows, and all are laying up food sup.
plies for the possible time Of scarcity
in the stormy periods Of midwin,er
The animal does not Hibernate, but
is about in all the milder spells Of
winter, throwing up an occasional
mound wherever the ground is moi
frozen so hard as to prevent digging
Methods Of destroying the gopher
have been tested on the stationground
and in various parts Of the state fol
several years. In Connection with
the work Of exterminating the prairie
dogs-Vhich, to the credit Of the
station, is now practically complete, a
vigorous warfare has been waged on
the gopher, with the result that the
number of the animals have been
greatly lessened in all communities
!: where vigorous and concerted action
has been taken. 1t is extremely i'm.
probable, lihowever, that the pocket
gopher will ever share the fate Of the
prairie dog, although there is no long.