494 THE HANDBOOK FOR PEACTICAL FARMERS 



sixty baits. Distribute in same manner as stated for poisoning 

 Columbia ground squirrels. 



Poison for California, or "digger," ground squirrels. — Pre- 

 pare by same formula as for Richardson ground squirrels, but 

 use sixteen quarts of clean barley instead of oats. Distribute as 

 for poisoning Columbia ground squirrels. 



Prairie-dogs. — Damage done. — Eats vegetation. Destructive 

 to pastures. 



Control. — Poison for prairie-dogs. — Mix thoroughly one 

 ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid) and one ounce of com- 

 mon baking soda (bicarbonate). Dissolve one heaping table- 

 spoonful of dry laundry starch in a little cold water and add it 

 to three-quarters pint of boiling water. Boil and stir until a 

 thin, clear paste is formed. Slowly sift the mixture of strych- 

 nine and soda into the starch paste, stirring constantly to form 

 a smooth, creamy mass. Add one-quarter pint of heavy corn 

 syrup and one tablespoonful of glycerin, and stir. Add one- 

 tenth ounce of saccharin, and again stir thoroughly. Pour this 

 mixture while still hot over thirteen quarts of clean oats and 

 mix until all the grain is coated. 



If alkaloid strychnine is not available, the sulphate may be 

 used, either powdered or in crystals, but it is necessary to vary 

 the formula. Dissolve the strychnine in the boiling water before 

 adding the cold starch. After the poisoned starch paste is clear, 

 stir in the soda very slowly. Then add the syrup, glycerin, and 

 saccharin as in the above directions and mix with the grain. 



For mixing small quantities an ordinary metal washtub is con- 

 venient. For large quantities a tight, smooth box may be used, 

 and the mixing done with a hoe or spade. 



"Wheat is well adapted for winter poisoning, and in the South, 

 where heavy oats are rarely obtainable, milo or feterita is an 

 excellent substitute. 



Woodchucks. — Damage done. — Burrows and mounds which 

 interfere with farm operations. Eats vegetables, clover and 

 other crops. Where there are but few woodchucks on the farm, 

 shooting and trapping is advised. 



Control. — 'They may be poisoned by strychnine inserted in 

 pieces of sweet apple, carrot, or sweet potato. The animals are 

 often destroyed in their burrows by fumigation with carbon 

 bisulphid or by the discharge of blasting powder. 



To destroy woodchucks with carbon bisulphid, saturate a wad 

 of cotton or waste with about one and one-half ounce of the 

 liquid. Place the cotton well inside the woodchuck burrow and 



