The La Jara chronicle., 1911-06-02
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
Directed by Colorado Agricultural College

tie less than a quart of boiling
water. Pour the alcohol into this
solution and stir. Then add the
mixture of strychnia, alcohol and
water to the contents of the mix
ing vessel and stir thoroughly.
This quantity of poison is suf-
ficient for two bushels of wheat
and will be more than is needed
for any ordinary conditions.
These ingredients may be used
in smaller quantities if the same
proportions are preserved.
After the poison is mixed the
grain should be put in a perfect
ly tight vessel and the poison
poured over it. Stir very thorough
ly till all the grain is wet, and
then slowly stir in sufficient corn
meal to take up the extra moist
ure.
Another poison is given by the
Biological Survey, which is as
follows:
l OF. strychnia sulfate
l pit. thick sugar syrup
" bu. shelled corn
Soak the grain and let it stand
over night. Prepare the poison
by dissolving the strychnia sui
fat in one pint of hot water.
Add the sugar syrup. Pour the
water off the grain and then let
it soak in the poison for several
hours. Take up the excess of
moisture with corn meal.
A third and more simple meth
Oh is often used where but a
small quantity of poison IS need
ed. Potatoes, carrots or other
vegetables are cut into pieces
about half an inch in diameter.
These are slit with a knife and
small quantity of strychnia
about the size of half grain of
wheat is inserted into each piece
Raisins are sometimes substituted
for vegetable bait.
Any of the above poisons may
be used by placing them in the
main runways of the animals. If
the bats are put in the laterals,
they are apt to be pushed out
by the animals with the dirt they
are bringing to the surface. 1t
requires some experience to find
tt e main tunnels, but attention
to the habits of the animals as
described above will help. 1t is
best to cOnfine the work entire
ly to the end Of the tunnel where
the animal is digging, which is
indicated by the fresh mounds
of earth that have been brought
up. The main tunnel is usually
found about midway between the
last two mounds. a sharp stick
made from a broom or spade han
die is needed. If much work is
to be done, it will pay to have
the stick shod with n sharp
point by a blacksmith, and lat
eral piece Of iron, on which the
foot may rest, put about fifteen
inches from the point, so that
the foot may be used in pushing
the instrument into the ground.
With this instrument the ground
is prodded until the main tun-
mel is found. A few kernels
of grain or pieces of poisoned
bait is then dropped into the run
way and a clod thrown on top or
the hole left open. The poison
should not be covered with earth
Failure of the animal to dig any
more indicates its death.
MISUNDERSTANDING is a
second method very commonly
employed. A number of manu-
facturers make traps which are
specially designed for this work.
These traps are to be set in
freshly opened laterals and are
so constructed that the animals
are caught as they push the
dirt out in front of them.
Gophers may also be caught
in the common steel traps such
as are used in trapping muskrats
These traps should be set in the
main runways. Dig down to the
runway and set the trap level
with the bottom. 1t is not neces-