Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-10-07

prepared BY the United States Depart
ment II Agricultural
Field mice under certain conditions,
may become extraordinarily abundant.
ana. as they are injurious TO most
crops. methods for controlling them
are OF Importance Unfortunately
most OF theil natural enemies are be
ing destroyed. or driven away from the
farms so that these mice are becom-
ing more and more of serious pest
Altogether lhere are some fifty spe-
cies OF field mice known TO exist in
the United States. but for the farmer
who is concerned only with getting
rid OF them there are only two classes
meadow mice and pine mice Inc
runs OF meadow mice are mainly on
the surface OF the ground, under grass
or some sheltering litter. These runs
lead to shallow burrows which serve
as winter homes. In summer the mice
use surface nests OF dead grass ne
Young may be brought forth IN either.
Meadow mice destroy grass. cut
down grain. clover and alfalfa. eat
grain left standing in shocks, inlure
flowers and vegetables in short, DO
harm in a hundred ways. In the lower
humboldt valley in Nevada in lsO''
1908 they totally ruined $4,000 acres oil
alfalfa. Trees and shrubbery are also
attacked and large nurseries OF young
annie trees have been known TO have
been almost wholly destroyed by the
mice cutting through the bark at or be
low the surface OF the ground.
When the mice completely girdle
shrub or young tree and eat through
/ the inner layer of the bark. the actloi
NJ the sun and wind soon complete th'
destruction OF the tree or shrub.
the injury is not too extensive. promp
covering OF the wounds VIII usual.
save the tree. In any case OF glrdllne
heaping up fresh soil about the truhl
so as to cover the wounds ana proven
evaporation is recommended as IN
simnlest remedy. TO save large. valt
able trees however. bridge grating !
often resorted to.
Pine mice ordinarily live in IN
woods and are not. therefore. found
the open plains. though they IKE ian
that 10 not frequently cultivated. The
tunnel their way from fence row
hodges and woods into gardens and Gu
tivated fields. where they live o
Goods roots and leaves. Like meade
mice. they also destroy fruit tree
particularly in upland orchards. me
attack the trees below the surface
that their work is frequently not 7
is dead.
Means Of determination.
When the mice, both meado" al
nine. are in small numbers. trapph
is nrohahlv the easiest method OF g
ting rid of them. From II to 20 ira
IN an acre may often be set with
vantage i'm the mouse runs. we
/ tho mice are abundant or the are
large. poisoning is a quicker means
determination The following tormul
| are recommended in Farmers hu'ie'
| $40 of the United States department
| agriculture
| Dry Grain Formula
| Nix thoroughly one ounce powder
! strvchnine (alkaloid), one ounce pc
l derod hicarbonate Of soda and o
eighth ounce Tor less) OF sacchari
Pit the mixture in tin pepper
and sift It gradually over 90 POUNDS
crushed wheat or 40 pounds OF crust
| oats IN n metal tub. mixing the or
| constantly so that the poison Will
| evenly distributed.
| Dry mixing. as above described
the advantage that the grain may
kent any length OF time without
mentation If 1t is desired to mois
| the grain to facilitate thorough mix
| it would be well to use a thin sta
paste tas described below, but
out strychnine) before applying
: St.oo rho starch soon nardenS