Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-10-01

ulntion entails Il direct loss Of $2O,OOO,-
GOO annually. This enormous sum gives
an idea of the still greater total loss
inflicted by this rodent throughout the
length and breadth Of the land.
TN, officers of he biological survey
say that thr gopher also does a great
deal Of damage to the crops, because
it feeds upon the roots of plants and
destroys great quantities Of grain and
garden stuff. 1t also throws up
mounds Of earth, which bury the grass
and other crops. Gophers have recent
Is proved Il serious annoyance to the
irrigation service by burrowing under
the dams and entertainments Of the
reservoirs and canals, causing eNpen-
>Ivc leaks and breaks. No animal,
however, is more easily controlled by
traps and poisons, and at the request
Of the reclamation service the bioloGi-
| cal survey recently sent out men to de-
/ wise ways and methods Of trapping
gnDhcrs. so that now the animals are
practically e~Xterminated upon the gov
trnmcnt irrigation system, although
they are likely to come back again If
they arc not looked after. 1t is lmpos-
>ibIc to estimate he amount of dam
ugc that they have done.
Rabbits are also doing a good deal
of damage, particularly in the fruit
countries. In Australia Il few years
ago they became SC numerous that the
entire population used to join in rabbit
drives and slaughter millions Of them
ut Il single meeting Rabbits breed so
rapidly that it is difficult to keep them
down. but It has been discovered that
IN Inexpensive wlitcwaSh made Of lime
and sulphur will protect orchard trees
against rabbits for at least Il year,
when ii must be renewed.
Wolves and coyotes are being grad
uolIv rNtcrminated on the Western
plains. Secretary Wilson says that
more thar 1900 wolves and about a.
600 coyotes were killed last year by To-
eating their breeding dcnS and poison
inc the young. He urges that this work
be continued throughout the West so
long as wild land exists in vast tracts
where they can find safe hnrborage ana
breeding grounds. Hitherto the loss
cS to Stockmpn have averaged S2OD.pOO,-
coo Il wear from these animals, but he
saws that by persistent effort and at a
comparatively small cost they can be
kent down so as To limit the damage
| done by them to Il minimum.
, In their relation tnEIrSriculturc mann
+ mails differ considerably from birds.
= Few birds are so harmful that their
\ wholesale destruction is called for,
since. by devouring destructive insects,
most of them end n full equivalent
! for any mischief they may commit
Such is by no means true of
, 4 few are very beneficial. and the use
fitness of such servants of man as bats.
skunks. wcaselS. badgers. foxes and
s mo]cs should be known and appreciat-
] ed. that their lives may be spared ana
t. they be allowed to continue their good
{ work.
: Every wear witnesses an increase in
the humble of spOrtSmen who pursue
our game birds, every species OF when
nlavs n more or less important part in
I DESTROYING insect life and preserving
8 the balance of nature; and THIS. too,
/, while the reclamation of vast tracts or
wild land for agriculture and other
PURPOSES c%ucroachcs on the breeding
, grounds of game birds, which are thu
= gradually becoming fewer in numbers,
while the demand for them becomes
greater and greater. Many OF. our In
s s]cctivorous birds are also killed foE
s food, despite the fact that state laws
+ almost everywhere prohibit suc1
n slaughter. With these and other forces
acting against the welfare OF our birds
O if becomes doubly important to ust
# every means in our power not only II
y prevent the reduction of useful species
. Inf ia increase their numbers whenever
= and wherever possible.