ARID AGRICULTURE. 



289 



what serves the purpose equally well, dried horse 

 balls, with two or three ounces of the liquid and 

 roll them down the open burrows, after which 

 the holes are filled with soil. The gas formed 

 is heavy and going down into the hole kills every 

 living thing in it. It is best used at sundown 

 when the squirrels or dogs are at home. Badly 

 infested lands may be cleared of these rodents at 

 a cost of three dollars or less per acre. It can- 

 not fail, unless too little of the liquid is used. 

 Covering the treated holes gives a check on the 

 work. If the rodents dig them open again the 

 gas was either not strong enough or the animal 

 was not at home. 



POISON FOB 

 RODENTS 



RECEIPT 



FOB 



POISONED 



GRAIN 



The most effectual way of getting rid of 

 prairie-dogs and certain other rodents is to 

 poison them. There has been difficulty in get- 

 ting these animals to eat poisoned grain. Strych- 

 nine is usually used, and being the bitterest sub- 

 stance known, few animals will eat it unless the 

 taste is covered up. A few years ago a method 

 was discovered of doing this and still leaving the 

 poison active. The method has been kept secret 

 in many places. 



The following receipt makes up one of the 

 most deadly poisons known. It is sure and sud- 

 den death to anything that eats it. Therefore, 

 take all the precautions necessary to prevent acci- 

 dent. One mistake might cause years of regret. 

 10 



