Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-05-14
Treating seed.COrn to Protect I
From BufrOWing Animals.
BY THEo. Il. ScHEEFER,
Assistant IN Zooioe;esI Invsst;eat;oa

Auistsnt IN ZoOiosiesl Investigation
AT this season of the year a great
maLy inquiries are being received at
the Station concerning methods of so
treating seed corn as to prevent its
being taken In the ground by moles
and other burrowing animals. 1t is
partly to supply timely information
on the subject and partly to secure
cooperation Of farmers in trying out
out some Of the more promising
methods Of procedure that this pre-.
liminary bulletin is published. 1t is
ouly fair to state at the outset, how
ever, that plans and methods with US
are still following experimental lines,
and that no final recommendations
can yet be made.
MICE, Nor MoLEs, GUILTY.
That the mole is directly response
BILE for few if any of the numerous
and varied depredalions laid 10 his
charge, our research the past year
has proven concluslvely. The mole
is predaceous animal. living chiefly
on insects, insect INDEPENDENTLY
white grubs), and earthworms. This
conclusion is based on the careful
analysis of the stomach contents of
over ore hundred fifty specimens
taken in all the months of the year.
Three or four species Of field mice
and the common house mouse habit
ually frequent the runways which
range over the understanding grounds
and feed on the grains and seeds
planted by man and by nature If
one will take the pains to set a few
small mouse traps, properly balted, in
shallow excavations scooped out in
the surface burrows Of field and gar.
den, he can do a lutte detective work
on his own account. The excavation
containing the trap should be covered
by a board or piece Of sod.
Experiments in methods of pre-
venting the theft of seed grain in the
ground have all followed one OF three
liues-baiting the pests some days
in advance of planting, regular plant
ing of poisoned seed, and surface
coating of seed with ill.Aavored SUBJ
stances.
Poisoned Bait-By batting we
mean the introduction Of poisoned
grain bats into the mole runawaj S
through small opening made with a
stick. This is the plan that succeeds
best with pocket gophers, for it places
the bait where it is sure to be found
The location Of the mole's runways j:
readily indicated by the surface ridg
ing of the earth, especially after /;
rain. The sharp stick used for max
ing the openings through the roo
Into the burrow should be no large
than ones finger. Close this opening
with clod after cropping in tn
kernels of poisoned grain. Eithe
corn or wheat treated with the poison
ed syrup used for destroying pocket
gophers will make efficient bats. Oh
binary white arsenic may also b
used by first wetting the corn wit
water in which little gum arab
has been dissolved and then dustin
the arsenic over the grain and stirrin
it thoroughly. If this plan is followe
the grain may be allowed to DR.
before using. The bait may be pr
out with hand planter, if the graf
has been poisoned by some substanc
that does not render it sticky. T
prepare bait that will work in
planter, dissolve one.eight Of a
ounce Of strychnia sulphate in tv
quarts of hot water, preferably raj
water. Soak the corn in this for 4
hours and then spread it out and d.
thoroughly.