THE PROTECTION OF SEEDING AND PLANTING SITES 179 



they are useful in destroying all rodents harmful to regeneration 

 by direct seeding. 



a. Mix 1 heaping tablespoonful of gloss starch in ^ teacup of 

 cold water, add 1 pint of boiling water and stir until it forms 

 a thin, clear mucilage. Remove from the stove. Mix 1 ounce of 

 powdered strychnine (alkaloid) and 1 ounce of powdered bicar- 

 bonate of soda and stir it into the starch. Add 1 tablespoonful of 

 glycerine, and finally ounce of saccharin. Apply the mixture to 

 20 quarts of good, clean oats or wheat and mix thoroughly in 

 order to coat each kernel. 



Bell and Piper 1 report this poison as useful in destroying chip- 

 munks, kangaroo rats, pocket mice, the smaller species of ground 

 squirrels, and at times many white-footed mice. 



Oats are usually the most successful bait. On account of the 

 skill of chipmunks in "hulling" oats, poisoned wheat is more 

 effective in destroying these animals. Barley, in the proportion 

 of 16 quarts to each ounce of strychnine, has given the best 

 results in destroying the large "digger" ground squirrels. It is 

 most effective during the dry summer season. 



b. Mix together | ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid), 

 j ounce of powdered bicarbonate of soda, a scant \ teaspoonful of 

 saccharin, 2 heaping tablespoonfuls of dry powdered starch, and 

 add enough cold water to make a thin paste of the consistency of 

 cream. Apply gradually to the material to be used as bait, mix- 

 ing vigorously to distribute the poison as evenly as possible and 

 to prevent the formation of lumps. 



This formula is, in some respects, an improvement over the first, 

 as the taste of the strychnine is masked for a time. The intense 

 bitterness of strychnine detracts from success in poisoning certain 

 rodents such as white-footed mice. The poisoned bait should be 

 handled carefully to avoid loosening or breaking off the coating. 

 It should be freshly prepared each morning for the day's use. 

 The poison can be applied to oats, wheat, cracked corn, or coarse 

 meal of all kinds. For chipmunks and ground squirrels, \ ounce 

 of strychnine is sufficient for 4 quarts of bait. For white-footed 

 mice twice as much should be used. Whole or crushed pine or 

 spruce seed is especially attractive to the latter animals. 



1 Bell, W. B. and Piper, S. E.: Extermination of ground squirrels, gophers 

 and prairie dogs in North Dakota. (North Dakota Agr. Exp. Sta., Cir. 4. 

 1915.) 



