The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-30
State to Assist EX-
terminate Gophers
representative Of the Govern:
ment Here to- Demonstrate
Value of Poison

ment Here to- Demonstrate
Value of Poison
u. S. Elmer of the agricultural
college was here last week to
consult with the county commis-
sioners about campaign that is
being pushed by the United
States Biological Survey for the
eradication Of gophers. This year
four districts in this state were
worked and it is the plan to ex-
tend the area next year. to take
in several counties in the state.
Some Of the counties who have
been paying bounties are plannln
to try out the new plan of syste-
matte poisoning and it is under
stood that funds can be used
legally to promote this work:
Wherever the poison has been
tried, the results have been GER
tain.
The following is the formula
for the preparation of the poison:
1. Mix thoroughly one ounce OF
strychnine alkaloid (powdered)
and one ounce baking soda Zone.
heaping tablespoonful
2. Sift this into "a pint Of
thin, hot starch paste and stir
to q creamy mass. The starch
paste is made by dissolving one
heaping tablespoonful of dry CLOS
starch in little cold water,
which is then added to "a pint
of boiling water. Boil and stir
constantly until a clear, thin
paste is formed.
\ 3. Add v pint e tablespoon
fuls) heavy corn syrup and a
tablespoonful Of giycerine and
stir thoroughly.
4. Add 1-8 ounce. Zone teaspoon
ful full saccharrine and stir tho
houghly.
5. Pour this solution over 20
quarts of clean oats and mix tho
roughly so that each grain OF
oats is the oughly coated. Pre-,
pare it "a to 48 hours before us7
ing.
For mixing small quantities
an ordinary galvanized wash
tub is convenient. For larger
quantities tight, smooth box
may be used, and mixing may be
done with shovel.
6. A teaspponful of the poison
ed oats should be placed near
each ground squirrel hole on
clean hard ground, letting it
scatter as it falls. (Placed in this
way it will not endanger stock. Vi
Do not put the poisoned grain
on the loose dirt Of the mound or
into the holes. Each quart OF
the. poisoned grain is sufficient
to treat about go holes.
Rabbits are also doing much
damage over the state and the
department is recommending the
following formula for .winter
use which is the desirable time
to poison rabbits: Dissolve l or,
strychnine suiphate in 11s quarts
boiling water, add 10 quarts hot,
water and add 1-8 OF. saccharrine'
soak with IL pounds of alfalfa
hay. Put out on snow In small
piles in evening and gather it
up each morning.
The call for strychnine has
been so great that North Dakota
has exhausted all the supplies,
and at the last could only secure
it as the factories turned it,
out. To make sure that suffi-
cient supply may be on hand
next year, it will be necessary to
let the manufacturers know
early how much will be needed 50
that they can have a supply,
ready by spring.
The thing to do now is to get
ready for thorough cleanup
campaign against tnese pests
early next spring. The work.
/ which has been done this year
/ under the direction Of the North,
Dakota Experiment Station and
the U. s. Department of Agricul-
ture has proven beyond question
that any community can rid itsel
! of these pests during April, May,
and June of a single year
through an organized campaign,
. Many townships have alreat
done this with excellent results,
II is absolutely necessary in or
der 10 completely exterminate
this pest at the lowest cost for
the people to get together and,
completely cover large areas wit
4 the poison.
The organization and plans for.
next year should be started at,
IS nrcn now that mnEhOd il known