CHAPTER XXXV 



PESTS OX THE FARM AXD THEIR COXTROL* 



Meadow and pine mice and common rats. — 



Damage done. — Injures farm crops, meadow and pasture 

 grass. Eats seeds, bulbs and vegetables. Girdles fruit trees. 

 In fact, when driven by hunger, both the Pine and Meadow mice 

 will destroy shrubs, berry bushes, vines and many species of 

 forest trees. 



Fig. 228. — Field mouse caught in baited guillotine trap. — U. 8. Dept. of 



Agriculture. 



Control. — Bait guillotine traps with grain, cheese or meat and 

 set in mouse runs. There are a number of types of rat traps on 

 the market that are very effective. 



For poisoning meadow mice on large areas the following 

 methods are recommended: 



Dry-grain formula. — Mix thoroughly one ounce powdered 

 strychnine (alkaloid), one ounce pow^dered bicarbonate of soda, 

 and one-eighth ounce (or less) of saccharin. Put the mixture in 

 a tin pepperbox and sift it gradually over fifty pounds of crushed 

 wheat, or forty pounds of crushed oats, in a metal tub, mixing 

 the grain constantly so that the poison mil be evenly distributed. 

 Dry mixing has the advantage that the grain vasiy be kept any 

 length of time without fermentation. If it is desired to moisten 



* Formulas taken from Bull. 932, IT. S. Department of Agriculture. 



490 



