Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-03-09
FRUIT and FARM


po uoho uuIluS Jne rainy season and
preferably just following a rain
when the soil is tight Carbon bisul-
phide is liquid having a very dis
agreeable odor. 1t volatillzes at or
dinary temperatures as a heavy gas.
Being heavier than air it will follow
down a burrow and when the squir-
ril is encountered he is soon over
come.
In using carbon bisulphide in fields
thickly infested with squirrels two
men can work together to the best
advantage, one man carrying the
poison and the absorbatiye material,
and the other carrying the shovel and
does the digging. About a table,
spoonful is poured on to any waste
material such as pieces of old gunny
sacks, rags, corncobs, horse manure.
ETC. This is Immediately thrown
down the burrow as far as possible
after which the hole is closed. Care
should always be taken that the poi
son absorbatiye is not covered up by
the soil in closing the hole.
Pay no attention TO old burrows
showing no signs of squirrel being
present. AS carbon bisulphide is
very explosive it should at all times
be kept away from any light, Like
wise do not smoke when handling it,
1t can be purchased at any drug
store. There are commercial prepar-
ations on the market a few of which
are vey good but generally they are
more expensive.
Trapping and shooting are more or
less effective at all seasons.
Poisoning is the general practice
during the summer and fall, strych-
nine being the poison used. Dis
solve l ounce strychnine and 2
ounces borax in two quarts of hot
water contained in a closed vessel
shaking occasionally until dissolved.
Then add quarts of warm water
in which a pound honey has been
dissolved. Sprinkle this solution
over 20 pounds of either crushed
wheat, barley, oats, or corn meal
whichever is at hand. Place Y tea
spoonful at the entrance of each bur-
row. Small crystals of strychnine in
serted in pieces of carrots, turnips
or whole raisins are good.
Gophers-Trapping with proper
traps and keeping at it all the time
is otter very effective. By paying
the boys nickel for each gopher
they will become interested and can
keep them under control in small
fields.
Poisoning-The gopher being very
fond of fleshy plants we use such
plants for bait. Pieces of apples,
potatoes, carrots, Whole prunes and
raisins into which crystals of strych-
nine have been inserted is the most
poison. The poisoned bait
is inserted in the burrows through
a hoe made with a pointed stick.
BY locating two burrows close to-
gether the runway will be on direct
line connecting them under ground
and with a few trials one can readily
strike the burrows with the pointed
stick
Notes.-The mole is difficult to
trap or poison. Locate a place in the
)urrow where fresh work is motto,
lb'e. Press down the soil for dis
.ance longer than the trap and set |!
It. When purchasing traps always |
get directions and follow them close
y as it is difficult in an article of
his kind to go into detail.
Poisoning Remove the seeds from
aisins and insert in their place a
rysta of strychnine. Make a small
lo'e in freshly made burrow and
insert the poisoned raisin.
Rolling the Lawn-Rolling lawns
eem to discourage the work of the
noes. Besides this it levels any
idges already made.
In using poisons of any kind great
are should always be exercised. Al
rays label the containers "poison"
nd keep them out of reach of child
en-. Poisoned materials in the field
; liable to be eaten by chickens and
irds which should always be taken
lto consideration. C. C. CATE,
Pathologist