180 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



carbon bisulphide as an exterminator. Under date of 3rd October, he writes me as 

 follows : — 



" I regret to say that my results with bisulphide are not as complete as I could 

 have wished. It was some time before a supply could be obtained, and when it ar- 

 rived, gophers were getting scarce. Further, it was then difficult to ascertain how many 

 if any were in the holes. However, ten holes were found in which gophers were seen. 

 In these the bisulphide was placed, according to directions, and the holes closed. Of 

 these, two have been opened by the inmates, and eight remain closed, showing that 

 in the latter, death to the gophers resulted. This is a much better result than can be 

 obtained with strychnine, but the experiment is not sufficiently extensive to be con- 

 sidered conclusive." 



In view of this favourable testimony, I should advise our farmers and munici- 

 palities to give the bisulphide a trial. The retail price of bisulphide of carbon varies 

 with the locality ; in Ontario it is from 25c. to 40c. per lb. Professor Nis wander, 

 whom I have quoted above, states that it may be purchased wholesale from the manu- 

 facturer, E. R. Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, at ten cents per lb. f. o. b. at the factory. 

 Owing to its inflammable character, specially high rates of freight are charged. One 

 gallon, about 10 lbs., is a quantity sufficient for 160 to 200 burrows. 



Strychnine for the Poisoning of Crows and Blackbirds. 



Every year our farmers, more especially in the older provinces, are much annoyed 

 by the depredations of crows. The loss sustained through the spoliation of Indian 

 corn fields by these birds must be a large one annually. In Manitoba and the North- 

 west Territories, the blackbird, in like manner, makes havoc in the wheat fields. 



Poisoning by the use of strychnine would appear at present to be the most effica- 

 aious and economical manner of getting rid of these marauders. 



Two plans for killing the crows were tried this year on the Central Experimental 

 Farm. The first was by scattering, just before the plants appeared above the surface of the 

 ground, corn grains that had been soaked in a solution of strychnine. In the prepar- 

 ation of the poisoned grain, the remarks in the foregoing chapter are strictly applicable 

 It must further be stated that the skin of the corn kernel is exceedingly hard and 

 impermeable to fluids. It was accordingly found necessary to soak the grain for 

 three days in the strychnine solution, before its tissue becomes thoroughly impregnated. 



The other method consisted in chipping away a small piece of the shell from an 

 egg and inserting a small crystal of strychnine. A small pair of forceps were found 

 most useful for this purpose. The eggs were sunk in the soil to about three-quarters 

 of their depth, about seven or eight being placed at intervals over an area of two acres. 

 Crows being very fond of eggs and having a very keen sight, were soon attracted. 



From one year's experiments it is scarcely possible to say which is the better plan. 

 Both succeeded in protecting the field, when the dead birds were allowed to lie on the 

 field. This work will be continued another year and results reported. 



It is very probable that wheat soaked till soft in a solution of strychnine and 

 scattered over wheat fields, would protect the latter from the ravages of the blackbird. 



ANALYSIS OF THE " MAMMOTH CHEESE." 



A representative sample of the Canadian mammoth cheese, taken from the block 

 of 70 pounds as returned from England, was found on careful analysis to have the 

 following composition : — 



Moisture 3206 



Butter fat 3443 



Curd (casein and albumen) 28 " 00 



Ash, salt, milk-sugar, &e 5 "51 



100 00 



The cheese was perfectly sound and entirely free from skippers. 



