El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-06
FARHTNG
SUGGESTS MEANS TO
KILL PRAIRIE DOGS
New Mexico State College Issues Bull
IetiD Telling How Farmers Pest
May Be Fought

IetiD Telling How Farmers Pest
May Be Fought
State College. n. NJ, March Con
troll Of the prairie dog problem is the
subject Of a bulletin issued by the ag-
riculturaI department of the college.
Killing prairie dogs may be done in
several ways, but the bulletin gives
only two ways that are Of general. ap-
pltcatton- Special cases may often be
met by means pertaining to those cases
alone
Fumigation is effective if carried out
correctly, but may prove expensive in
some cases Carbon bisulphide is useu
as the fumigant 1t is a volatile Liquid
that may be procured in one pound
cans or in larger quantities the price
depending on the quantity and quality
varying probably from 10 cents or less
to so cents a pound The commercial
variety is cheaper and serves as well
as the pure. The liquid is highly in
flammabIe and the gas from it is ex-
plOsive, so keep all kinds Of fire away.
Keep can tightly corked when not in
use.
To use, saturate piece OF cotton.
or like substance, as big as a goose
egg with the liquid, drop il as far
down the hole as possible and at once
close the opening Of the hole. All holes
leading into the burrOW should be
closed before treating the main one,
if you can tell how the burrows run
Otherwise treat and cover as quickly
as possible the holes in a small radius
The covering is necessary TO keep the
gas undiluted and confined even
though il is heavier than the air and
naturally goes to the bottom of the
burrOW. More or less liquid than the
above may be needed for larger or
smaller holes. Sometimes the gas is
exploded in the hole with success
Observe caution in exploding IL so as
not 10 breathe the fumes OF be burned
Rainy, damp weather favors the use
Of this method Of killing the animals.
Poisoning is best done in winter on
spring before the vegatiOn gets very
green Poisoned grain is the best
medium for getting the poison into the
been found to work better than poison
soaked grain. Wheat, barley or kaffir
corn may be used.
Strychnine-starch coating: Grain
(cIean) 20 quarts; stryehnia sulphate
(pOWdered), one ounce sugar one or
two pints; gloss starch, (Ordinary
laundry starch, one-half teacupful;
water, (bOiling) one and one-half
Nix the starch in little cold water.
then add the boiling water, making
rather thick solution. While hot, stir
in the strychnfne and mix until free
from Jumps Add few spOonLuis OF
water to the sugar, then add this mix
ture and beat thorough = Next, pour
this poisoned mass over the grain ana
stir rapidly until the poison is evenly
smeared over the grain then allow the
grain to dry. If well dried it viii
keep indefinitely.
Put out in early morning in two or
three heaps Of a teaspOOnful each about
each burrow. Do not put out in rainy
weather. Take care that other AMI
mails and birds. especially, do not get
The Kansas formula is: Strychnia
sulphate (poWder) ! ounce; potassium
cyanide. 1 ounce, alchOl IL ounce;
syrup 1 pint
PreparatfOn.-One ounce OF green
coffee berries is mixed with the white
Of one egg and allowed TO stand for at
least II hours The strychnia is dis
solved in a half-pint Of boiling water.
The potassium cyanide IS dissolved IN
a Quarter-pint Of hot water and al
lowed to cool
Add a little warm water TO the mix
ture Of coffee and eggs and mix II
with the potassium cyanide. Then
strain this mixture through a coarse
sieve into the mixing vessel and add
the syrup. Nix the alcohol with the
hot solution OF strychnine and add It to
the other mixture. Stir all thoroughly.
Directions for use.-FOr the above
poison take a half buShel OF clean
wheat or Kaffir corn in a large metal
tub. After thoroughly shaking and
stirring the mixture above, pour II
over the grain and stir until every
part is thoroughly wet with the poison
Then stir in two or three pounds OF
fine cOrn-meals TO take up the extra
moisture. Let the mixture stand in a
shed over night and put it out early
the next morning If the weather IS
fine. Place half q tablespoonful or less OF
the bait in two or three little bunches
at the outside Of each burrOW occupied
by prairie dogs. Only occupied burrows
should be poisoned. A half bushel OF
grain should poison from 500 to 500
holes. Take care that the poisoned
grain is not eaten by other animals.