AND FRUIT GARDEN. IOI 



KILLING GOPHERS. 



One of the simplest means and probably the most 

 effective and cheapest method yet devised for 

 destroying gophers and other burrowing animals is 

 by the use of bisulphide of carbon. This com- 

 pound when pure forms a colorless, mobile liquid 

 having a peculiar odor, and when taken inwardly is 

 a violent poison. As usually obtained it contains 

 impurities in the form of other compounds of sul- 

 phur which give it a strong and extremely offen- 

 sive odor, and when inhaled it soon causes death. 

 For the purpose of destroying gophers or ground 

 squirrels the crude bisulphide is better and much 

 cheaper than the pure article. Care should be 

 taken in using the liquid, as it is both inflammable 

 and explosive. Its efficacy depends on the fact 

 that its vapor is heavier than air and when intro- 

 duced into burrows flows like water into all the 

 recesses. 



The method of use for burrowing mammals is as 

 follows: A small quantity, about 3 tablespoonfuls 

 for prairie dogs, and 2 tablespoonfuls for gophers, 

 should be poured upon a bunch of rags or waste, 

 which should be immediately placed within the 

 mouth of the burrow, and the hole closed. 



In a bulletin " On the destruction of Ground 

 Squirrels by the use of Bisulphide of Carbon," pub- 

 lished in 1878, Prof Hilgard gives the results of 

 experiments made on the California ground squirrel 

 as follows: 



" It is curious that in no case have I known a 



