The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-06-07
Two Novel Suggestions Of How to
Get Rid Of Lawn Pests Have
Been Received
FARMER TRIES DUCKS
ENGLISH GUINEA PIGS
Both are Said to Do the Work
Establishment Of Office Of Mu-
nicipal Duck Herder Might Pro-,
vide Good Business Investment

Two suggestions for the destruc-
ton of dandeiiens have been re-
ceived at the Herald office this week
and will be turned over to the civic
art committee which has declared
the most pronounced aversion to the
tararaeum officinale. One is guinea
pigs and the other Indian Runner
ducks.
Neither of tfese remedies may
seem at fest sight available for use
on city lawns, but a httle thought
may help to convince that both
schemes are not only practicable
but profitable.
Like FAx1y Tops
The duck remedy was suggested
by Mob Hill rancher who found
that his young "auack auacks' would
go out Of their way to eat the fuzzy
top of a dandelton gone TO seed.
They would gather the down into
their capacious beaks. run to the wa
ter ditch and wash 1t down. then
back for more. Whereupon he. not
wishing to be selfish in the possession
Of a good thing. makes the matter
public He does not know whether
the fondness for dandeIions is pecu-
liar to the Indian Runner variety, or
whether all ducks share II. since he
has only the one kind. But he re-
commends exyerim ent.
NVed an OfriciaI
II the civic art committee thinks
we'll of the plan, it might acquire
small flock of ducks. put them in
charge of a competent parson and
rent them out as dandelop destroy
ers. 1t might make a charge based
on the square footage covered. or
even a per capita charge so that the
payment should be in proportion to
the dandelions destroyed 1t would
be only fair. too. to make some dis
count for tha nourishment btained
by the ducks from this free forage
though this would doubtless be off
set by the salary of the duck herder.
If he civic art committee feels the
venture too hazardous, it might per-
suade the city to take it up. The Of
fee of municipal duck .heraer is
bound to have many applicants.
Comes From England
The guinea pig suggestion comes
covered that this small apimal of
reproductive repuHa ton and lahora-
tory value. has a decided penohant
Tor the dandeAon Used on the golf
links on some of the big country
estates, it does noble service, pre-
ferrng the broad leaves of the dan
delion to the slender blades OF grass.
Now a municipal guinea pig hoy
might not seem to be quite such
dignihed official as municipal duck
herder but he would doubtless draw
the same salary. IT is primarily
question of results; secondarily of
revenues. Or perhaps than should
be reversed. The charge for dande-
lion destruction would probably be
Approximate in both cases The
ducks, however, if not toughened by
overmuch walking would bring in an
ultimate profit at the butchers. I'm
der ordinary circumstances there
would be no such remunerstive ex-
odus for the guinea pig. But with
talk of a bacteriologist 10 be esLab-
lished here with frequent tests of
water the milk and other suspected
food substance, there will be A lively
demand for the guinea pig which is
of so amenable a disposition that it
responds promGy to almost any old
deadly disease with which it may be
innoculated. BY farming out its
guinea pigs on the city lawns AT so
much pei lawn, the council might
raise a considera bic portion of its
share of the expense of the bacte-
biologist, in addition 70 providing
the subjects for the tests.