Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-07-08
GOVERNMENT
GOPHER MAN
G. M. Yerington Shows County
Commission How to Extern
mate Pest.
RURLEIGH COUNTY
TO BUY POISON
Money Paid for Bounties Will Be
Used in Well Planned Cam
paign.

c. VI. Yerington Of the United
States biological Survey, under the
Department of Agriculture, yesterday
demonstrated to the Burleigh County
Commissioners how the gopher pest
can be eXterminated. Mr.. IeTington,
in company with the Commissioners
and the county auditor, went out into
the country yesterday afternoon,
where 2 demonstration was made.
The county commissioners were will
pleased with the plans advanced by
Mr.. Yeringtcn for Kidding the county
of the pest and will take the matter
up at their session today.
1t is likely that the county will dis
continue the payment of a bounty on
cophers, and will use the money eX-
pended in that way to carry on a SCI
entific campaign Of determination. The
government will assist in the work.
and will furnish the poison, prepared
after their own formula, at cost price.
Do Great Damage.
Over 1000. 900 damage is done an
nua!ly in this state by gophers. Ii
actual figures could be compiled they
would stagger n unfamiliar with the
condition.
The animal that is the most con.
spicuous offender in this way is the
Richardson ground squirrel or flicker
tail, commonly called gopher in
North Dakota. This is the yellowish.
short-tailed animal which ranges
westward from the western border of
the Red Piyer valley to the Missouri
River, thence north and west into
Canada and Montana. The damage
which they do TO grain fields by eat
ing the seed grain and later cutting
down growing stalks and eating the
ripening grain is SO we'll known to
North Dakota farmers that it is IN
necessary to describe il in detail here.
They also are proving especially des-
tructive to corn and alfalfa and in
this way are seriously interfering
with the introduction and successful
culture Of these two valuable crops.
Exhaustive experiments have been
made at the North Dakota Agricul-
tural Experiment station, and the
findings Of those in charge are being
spread broadcast over the state.
Poison Formula.
AS a result of these investigations q
formula is here given for the prepar-
alton of poison-coated grain. This
method has given excellent results
and is the best that has been produc-
ed up to the present time. 1t is re-
commended for the determination OF
the Richardson ground squirrel OF
hickertail. This preparation is equal
ly effective in destroying the Frank
lin or gray ground squirrel and the
striped or thirteen-lined ground SPUR
rel.
Formula for Preparation of Poison:
o. Mix thoroughly l ounc s:rych-
nine alkaloid (powdered) and l ounce
baking soda.
~ Sift this into "a pint Of thin,
hot starch paste and stir to a creamy
mass. The starch paste is made by
dissolving one heaping tablespoonful
of dry gloss starch in a little cold wat.
which is then added to Il pint of
uOllllIS "dtci. DUH ullu SUI CUUSLdul-
ly until a clear thin paste is formed.
(3) Add Il pint heavy corn syrup
and a tablespoonful Of glycerine and
stir thoroughly.
az Add Is ounce saccharine and
stir thoroughly.
% Pour this poison solution over
20 quarts Of clean oats and mix thor.
oughly so that each grain Of oats is
coated. Prepare it "a to 4S hours be-
fore using.
For mixing small quantities on or
binary galvanized wash tub is conyen.
lent. For larger quantities a tight,
smooth box may be used, and mixing
may be done with a spade.
(6) A teaspoonful of the poisoned
oats should be placed near each
ground squirrel hole on clean hard
ground letting il scatter slightly as it
falls. (Placed in this way it will not
endanger stock. Do not put the pois-
oned grain On the loose dirt of the
mound or into the holes. Each quart
of the poisoned grain. is sufficient to
treat about 60 holes.