The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-09-05

Biological Survey, which follows: :
OF. strychnia sulfate
Ipt. thick sugar syrup
IL bu. shelled corn
Soak the grain and let it
stand over night. Prepare the
poison by dissolving the strychnia
sulfate 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 method
is often used where but small
quantity Of poison is needed.
Potatoes, carrots or other vege-
tables are cut into pieces about
half an inch in diameter. These
are slit with a knife and a
small quantity Of strychnia about
the size Of half a grain of wheat
is inserted into each piece. Rails:
ins are sometimes substituted for
vegetable bait.
Any Of the above posons may
be used by placing them in the,
main runways Of the animals.
If the bats are put in the lateral
they are apt to be pushed out by
the animals with the dirt they
are bringing to the surface It
requires some experience to find
the main tunnels, but attention
to the habits of the animals as de-
scribed above will help. It is best
to confine the work entirely to
the end Of the tunnel where the
animal is digging, which is in
dicated 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 broom or spade handle is
needed. If much work is to be
done, i will pay to have the
stick shod with a sharp point by
A few kernels Of gran or pieces
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 in
strument into the ground. With
this tool the ground is prodded
until the main tunnel, is found.
A few kernels of grain or piece
Of poisoned bait is then dropped
into the. runway 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 in
dicates it's death.
Traping.-Trapp is second
method very commonly employed.
A number Of manufacturers make
traps which are specially de-
signed 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 loads Of dirt out
in front Of them.
Gophers may be caught in the
common steel traps such as are
used in trapping muskrats. These
traps should be set in the main
ranways. Dig down to the run
ways and set the trap level with
the bottom. It is not necessary
to cover the trap for the animals
do not seem to suspect any troub-
le of this kind. It has been found
better to put a board or some
other covering over the opening
to exclude the light, though this
is not altogether necessary. The
traps should be frequently scald-
ed to take away the animal odor.
Records from Kansas experiment
station show that from half to
!two-thi1ds of the traps set in. this
way will be covered with dirt, SO
one should not be discouraged at
the results Of the first attempts.
Plenty Of traps should be used
and the work ste my carried on
throught the days. Arthur
johnson, Colo. Agr. e College.
WATERS FROM PACIFIC
OCEAN IN PANAMA CANA.