47 



killed a great many, but not so many as I thought it ought. 

 I then reduced the quantity of grain to three bushels, and 

 changed from wheat to oats, but still did not pick up the 

 numbers I expected. At that time I was using two different 

 brands of strychnine, and found a very great difference 

 in the numbers killed accordin^j to which sort I employed ; 

 so great was the difference that it took 2oz. of one brand to 

 kill as many as loz. of the other, and I have no doubt one was 

 a mixture of some sort. The brand to depend upon is " Jacop 

 Hulle," and with the mixture I give below, carefully prepared, 

 any number of rabbits can be killed. I have tried several 

 experiments with this, and have dissolved loz. to one bushel, 

 and yet did not pick up any more rabbits on the spot, they 

 still travelled some distance, I think the faculty will be able to 

 explain this ; but I find that I get quite as many rabbits with 

 loz. to two bushels, and have therefore lately kept to that 

 quantity. Many have asked me whether it can be placed 

 with safety on runs where sheep are running, and as I have 

 heard it reported I had killed upwards of 500 sheep, the 

 question is a serious one. I have laid it on some of my runs 

 for the last two months, and have only found three sheep 

 killed by it, and I think it likely they have been killed 

 by the grain having in some places been laid too thick. The 

 way to lay it on a sheep run is broadcast, and the quantity not 

 more than a sower would cast at the rate of one bushel to the 

 acre. I have laid many miles of it of this thickness with- 

 out harm to anything except the rabbits, and a few kangaroo 

 and kangaroo rats. 



When I used wheat I found many white magpies were killed, 

 but since using oats only a few. Crows appear almost poison 

 proof. I think I have half the crows in the district here, and, 

 as yet, have only seen a few killed, although they manage to 

 clear up any number of dead rabbits the day after they (the 

 rabbits) are killed. 



My dogs live on the rabbits, and, as yet, without much harm 

 — I have known them get a little too much, but a little strong 

 tobacco water soon puts them right. 



I will now give you my recipe which I can warrant, and if I 

 was very hard up I would undertake to clear any estate in- 

 fested with rabbits. The oats, if possible, should be crushed — 

 as they absorb the poison better — and when once poisoned any 

 amount of rain does not appear to affect them, which might 

 not be the case if uncrushed ; if crushed they should afterwards 

 be winnowed to blow away the husks. In 1| gallons boiling 

 water with five teaspoonsful muriatic acid, put I oz. strych- 

 nine, (less water will be sufficient if the grain is not crushed, 

 say 1 gallon). Stir and let stand for 10 minutes. "With this 



