452 Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



ground or stuck on short sticks. Small twigs cut from fruit trees 

 and dipped in a syrup or paste containing strychnine are at timeg 

 successful as baits. 



For extensive work a grain bait is generally used, and for this 

 purpose " Colorado Formula No. 15 " is recommended. Obtain from 

 the chemist 1 ounce of powdered strychnine alkaloid. Be certain that 

 it is the alkaloid, and that it is finely powdered. Mix the strychnine 

 and 1 teaspoonful of saccharine in 1 quart of water, add h pint of fine 

 salt and \ pint of wheat flour, mix thoroughly (an e^g beater is a 

 good implement to use) and bring to a boil, stirring continually and 

 making certain that the paste does not scorch. Then pour the paste 

 over 10 quarts of grain (about 20 lb), mix thoroughly, and spread 

 out to dry. This bait can be kept indefinitely. 



A simpler bait, which, however, is hardly so effective, may be 

 made as follows : Dissolve 1 ounce of strychnine sulphate or hydro- 

 chloride in a gallon of hot water, add 4 lb. of cheap sugar or 5 gallon 

 of treacle and 20 lb. of grain, and simmer until the liquid is absorbed 

 by the grain. This bait must be used at once, as it will soon ferment. 



Different kinds of grain could be used, but maize is generally 

 satisfactory. Before putting out the bait, the hares should first be 

 fed for tvvo or three nights with unpoisoned grain. If this grain is 

 eaten, no feed should be given for a night, then on the following 

 evening the poisoned bait should be put out, a tablespoonful in a 

 place. 



Best results are obtained by running a few shallow furrows 

 through the lands and placing the bait in them. 



Field Mice and Rats. — The following bait has given excellent 

 results against South African veld mice : Dissolve a small cupful 

 of laundry starch in a little cold water, add about 3 pints of boiling 

 water, stir, and pour the paste over 40 lb. of crushed grain. Mix 1 

 ounce of powdered strychnine, 1 ounce of common baking soda, and 

 a teaspoonful of saccharine (the latter is not absolutely necessary), 

 place in a pepper box, and sift it over the grain. Mix thoroughly, let 

 stand for a couple of hours, and then use, placing about a teaspoonful 

 in a spot. 



The United States of America Bureau of Biological Survey has 

 used very successfully a simple convenient bait prepared by sifting 

 the poison mixture from the pepper box on to dry crushed wheat. No 

 paste is used. The same Bui*eau has had very good results in winter 

 with a bait prepared as follows : Moisten 30 lb. of finely cut dry 

 lucerne hay with water. Dissolve 1 ounce of strychnine sulphate (the 

 hydrochloride can be used) in 2 gallons of hot water, and sprinkle 

 it over the lucerne. This bait is cheap, convenient, less dangerous 

 than grain to birds, and is well worthy of trial. 



Treatment of Injured Trees. 



Small irregular wounds should be trimmed, so as to leave smooth 

 edges, and then covered with grafting- wax to exclude the air and 

 prevent drying out of the tissues. If wax is not available a plaster 

 of fresh cow dung and clay should be bound over the wound. 



For a grafting wax, Mr. E. A. Davis, late Chief Horticulturist 

 for the Union, recommends the following as being suited to our condi- 

 tions : Melt together in a suitable vessel, such as an iron kaffir pot, 

 6 lb. of crushed resin, i lb. of beeswax, and 1 oz. of raw linseed' 



