Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-06-13
Field Mice and Clover.
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present day conditions, may increase
in numbers until they assume the pro-
portions of a plague" says A. l..
Lovett, assistant entomologist of the
Oregon Agricultural College Expert
ment Station. "Asia and Europe have
been more subject to these outbreaks;
often vast areas, including from few
thousand acres to whole provinces
have been devastated by these small
rodents. Serious outbreaks in the
United States are comparatively rare
and extend over limited areas. .
"The short-tailed field mice are very
prolific. There are from 2 to litters
during the year; the number of young
per litter varying from to IL, with
an average of about 6. The young
from the early litters are believed to
breed before fall.
Generally speaking, local condi-
tons in an infested district are favor
able to the increase of the mice.
Their favorite location seems to be the
damp areas bordering on small streams
or irrigation bitches. Here they live,
thrive and multiply in more or less
well defined colonies, eventually over
running the adjacent fields. They are
gregarious in habit and move in colo
nies, which, in successive years,
amount to hordes. Usually they clean
up definite area, then move on to ad-
jacent fields, leaving havoc in their
wake.
"Clover and alfalfa fields afford an
abnormal food supply and the rate of
increase here is especially rapid.
During the summer season the soil
becomes honeycombed with their holes,
and by fall their injury is quite
marked. The winter injury is even
more severe, as they feed at this time
on the crowns and roots. Fields are
often rendered Improbable and may
be killed out entirely. Ordinarily a
season of excessive abundance is fol-
lowed by a period of comparative de-
preston.
NEARLY all root crops may be at
tackled, such as potatoes, beets, car
rots and others. Fruit and shade trees
are also sometimes killed or severely
set back by the feeding of these mice
on the roots.
During serious outbreak or
plague of field mice, it is seemingly
impossible to suppress the pest sue
cessfully. This is due partly to ignor.
ance of proper methods of procedure
and lack of cooperation. Treating the
pest before it has assumed the proper
tions of plague is urged. Whole
communities included in the infested
area should assiduously cooperate will
one another to hold in suppression ;
pest that has the possibility of becom
ing wholesale plague.
"Fatal bacterial diseases to be in
troduced in prepared food have beel
proposed. This treatment will worl
where conditions are right, but is to-
expensive for general usage.
Hawks, owls, crows, gulls and her
ons, among the birds, and skunks an
weasels among the mammals prey con
tinuously and effectively on field mice
These valuable allies should receiv
protection and encouragement.
"Poisons seem by far the most prac
tical means of dealing with field mice
A single treatment of properly nike
and carefully applied poison will Civ
death percentage of from 85 to 95.
"To poison clover hay, chop 8
pounds of clean, fresh clover (or al
falfa) hay into about 2-inch lengths
place in large metal vessel an
dampen with gals. of fresh water
Dissolve l ounce of strychnia sui
phate in gals. of water by heatin
slowly in closed vessel. Sprinkl
over dampened hay and mix well.
"To poison green clover, heat l OF
of strychnia sulphate in half gallo
of water until dissolved. Add this t
one gallon of fresh, cold water. Cho
AS pounds of fresh, green clover 70
alfalfa) into Pinch lengths. Sprinkl
slowly with solution and mix we'll.
"To poison crushed wheat, dissolv
/ ounce of strychnia sulphate in
gals. of water. Sprinkle this solutio
over 60 lbs. of crushed wheat. Mi
well in metal vessel. If this mater
ial is to be retained for several days
add 2 tablespoonsfuls of borax to pre-
vert fermentation.
"The clover hay is best during tn
winter. A small pinch or teaspoon
full is sufficient. Place at the moutl
or even better, down in the runway c
the burrow. The green material
preferable in the summer, but is har
to apply over large areas. The fielt
should be treated in the evenings fc
best results.
"The crushed grain may be used an
time. A teaspoonful is sufficient fl
several burrows. If exposed, th
bait may prove attractive to certai
q. IL Ill., axu.nlad L. e.