The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-01-29
CANYON CO. FARM BUREAU
Idaho State College of Agriculture
and Bureau of Plant Industry,
u. S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Caldwell, Ida, Jan. p, 1915

Caldwell, Ida, Jan. p, 1915.
Dear Editor:
There has been SO much complaint
and so much loss on account of the
depredations of rabbits in the newer
sections of the county that have
been wondering if we cannot do
something to start a general cam
paign against them. If farmers liv-
ing in those sections where rabbits
are serious pest could be induced
to make a concerted effort to des-
troy them throughout the month of
February. | believe a great deal of
good could be accomplished while
individual efforts will result in very
little.
A campaign of this kind can be
started only by means of a great deal
of publicity work in the nature Of
press articles and comment. There
are no funds for this sort of thing
but if the papers of the county would
be willing to keep the idea before the
PEOPLE believe the farmers will
see the advantage of it sufficiently to
take it up. Attention should be
called to the value of concerted over
individual effort, to the necessity Of
acting at a season when feed is scarce
and before the spring brood of the
pest is born. If you are willing to
cooperate in this move you might
publish the following which is taken
from the January issue of the Gem
State Rural, quoting from T. A. Ward
of the U. S. Biological Survey.
Mr.. Ward recommends the follow
ing formula for poisoning rabbits, and
says in connection with it, "All the
poisons which it would be practicable
to use have been tried out to a def
mite conclusion and with the excep-
ton of strychnine as a poison and
oats as medium, all have been elimi-
mated because of various faults The
oat poison has the additional advant-
age of not being harmful to benefi-
cial birds. Care must be taken, How
ever, to procure oats that are free
from wheat and weed seed. By put
ting it out in tablespoonfuls the dan
ger to stock is reduced to a minimum.
1t should not be put out in heaps,
however, where stock has access to
it when confined, but on the range it
can safely be put out in tablespoon
full doses which are slightly scattered.
BY putting it out about alfalfa stacks,
or at previously baitcd spots where
the rabbits are accustomed to feed
ing regularly much more efficient
work can be accomplished than when
it is scattered promiscuously in the
sage brush. All sacks containing poi
son, mixing utensils and equipm tent
should be plainly labeled and kept out
of the reach of children, livestock and
IRRESPONSIBLE persons
Formula.
len quarts oats.
Two tablespoonful soda.
One pint water.
One ounce strychnine powder.
One tablespoonful starch.
Dissolve starch in little cold wat
er, add to the pint Of hot water and
boil until clear Add soda and stry-
chime together and beat until Jumps
are broken up and mixture has
creamy consistency Pour over oats
and mix thoroughly till every oat is
coated Let stand or hours then
add one-half pint thin boiled starch
solution in which one-eighth ounce OF
sugar has been stirred, Stir well
then add four quarts Of clean dry
oats and stir again" If anyone has
tried any other formula which is
cheaper than this which has givCr
good results let him tell his ucighbol
about it.
Very truly yours,
II. 4. IRELAND,
Canyon County Agficulturist U
5, d. A. Cooperating.