178 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



A brief report on the quality of the water is given to indicate the character and 

 wholesomeness or otherwise of the samples. Reports at greater length have been fur- 

 nished those who forwarded the waters. 



The particulars respecting the environment of the wells are of necessity omitted, 

 owing to their voluminous character. 



It will be noticed that the samples are from all parts of Canada. 



In conclusion, it may be stated that without good water, good health cannot be 

 expected. The action of polluted water is often insidious, undermining the general 

 health and frequently causing diarrhoea, indigestion or other intestinal disorders. 



To dairymen and milkmen, pure water should, of course, be an absolute essential. 

 The wholesomeness of milk and its products, butter and cheese, is to a large extent 

 directly dependent upon the purity of the water used for the stock and in the subsequent 

 dairy operations. 



THE EXTERMINATION OF GOPHERS. 



Strychnine as an Exterminator. 



From the correspondence received during the past season it would appear that the 

 farmers in certain districts of Manitoba and the North-west Territories are seriously 

 troubled by gophers destroying their field and garden crops. Many of the letters are ac- 

 companied by a sample of the stry chine to be tested for adulteration, the failure of this 

 poison being attributed to a supposed impurity. All the specimens, however, submitted 

 to examination have proved to be pure, and there seems to be no ground for the 

 wide-spread belief that this article, as generally sold in commerce, is adulterated. We 

 have, therefore, to look further for the apparent failure which we are accustomed to meet 

 with in using strychnine. 



From many analyses it appears that strychnine and strychnine sulphate are com- 

 monly sold and used for this purpose of poisoning gophers. 



Strychnine is a very insoluble substance, one part requiring 6,700 parts of cold, or 

 2,500 parts of boiling water for solution. In other words, one gallon of cold water can 

 hold about 10 grains, and the same quantity of hot water only 30 grains of strychnine. 

 I think that neglect to recognize this characteristic of marked insolubility has been the 

 chief cause of disappointment with this poison, for unless the strychnine is in solution, 

 the grain cannot absorb it. A few drops of a mineral acid (sulphuric or hydrochloric), 

 or if these are not at hand, a small quantity of strong vinegar, will much assist in dis- 

 solving the strychnine ; but in such a case the solution should not be made in a metal 

 vessel. 



Strychnine sulphate is much more soluble than strychnine, one part requiring from 

 10 to 50 parts (according to different authors) of water for solution. As a large excess 

 of the poison is always used, it would, therefore, seem that the strychnine sulphate 

 would, as a rule, give more satisfactory results than strychnine. 



Since poisoning by strychnine has been hitherto almost the only method practised, 

 it will be well to consider a few important points in the preparation of the poisoned 

 grain. 



The quantity usually recommended is one ounce of strychnine to one bushel of 

 wheat. If strychnine and not the sulphate is used, this amount appears wasteful, since 

 8 gallons (the equivalent of one bushel) of hot water can only carry half an ounce of 

 strychnine and it is not at all likely that more water than wheat is used. If a small 

 quantity of acid, or the strychnine sulphate, is used, one ounce of the material may 

 undoubtedly be employed with advantage. 



