The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-10-28
Motor Cars Valuable
In Horticultural Work

lures, where failure might be threat
ening. into assured successes.
The automobile Is. becoming. agri.
cultural experts say, great help In
the work OF spreading farm informa-
ton and assisting the agricultural ex-
perts who are carrying on the gov
ernment's demonstration work. Ono
man." said Prof. Spillman. In COM
Inenting Oh the Logan county demon
stration, when using an automobile.
can do the work OF three men who are
depending on other vehicles to carry
them from place to place.
II Is not 10 be understood that the
government Is furnishing the automo-
lilies TO its agents for this demonstra-
ton work. This il done usually by
the county commissioners or associa-
lions OF farmers who are anxious to
see the government demonstration
work go as far as possible. and who
are willing to show their appreciation
of the work OF supplying the govern
ment's agents with machines. g.
Twenty-one experts of the United
States biological survey have just com.
/ pleted perhaps the
exterminatin0 most successful
Squirrels. years work under
taken since the be-
ginning OF the governments campaign
TO exterminate the ground squirrels of
the Pacific coast. which. along with
rats. are the most dangerous carriers
OF bubonic plague infection.
The biological survey men have
worked under the direction of DR.. Ned
a nd A,rrf he
have almost completely extermtnated
the troublesome little animal pests
over the entire range of the squads
operations, which covered the Mon.
terey. Santa Barbara, Kern and
SeQuoia national forests OF California.
A deadly poison concoction has been
used In Kidding this section Of the
Pacific coast OF Mr.. Citellus Beecheyi.
which is the humble ground squirrels
scientific name.
People living in the eastern part of
the United States little realize what
nuisance are the ground squirrels in
the far west. Aside from the fact
that they are a menace to public
health, because they carry hees.
which in turn carry bubonic plague,
these little animals destroy thousands
OF dollars worth Of agricultural prod
ucts each year.
In the opinion OF DR.. Dearborn.
whose work on the national forests
has been carried on In cooperation
with officers OF the United States FOR.
est service, the economic side of the
movement In the determination of
ground squirrels Is even more import
ant than that Of sanitation. The an
nual loss Of range feed and grain crops
from ground sq0irrels is known to be
enormous. Squirrels, where they are
left unmolested. are said to destroy at
least 10 per cent Of the grass feed on
the range, and on grain land they de-
stroy a much larger percentage Of
the crop. Ranchmen are generally
agreed that this IL very low estimate
OF the annual loss from these pests,
and that any work In eradication
means a distinct beneft to the agrt
cultural interests of the state. POI.
Settlers owning land contiguous TO
the national forests keenly appreciate
the work which the government II do.
Ing In DISCRIMINATING the squirrels In
the forests and on forest ranges. Most
OF them have taken up the work OF
clearing their own land Of the squir-
rels at the same time that the work Ia
conducted on the national forests. and
! in the opinion Of the biological survey
and forest service experts II will not
be many years before the squirrels
are completely exterminated by the
process OF wholesale poisoning.