Aug. 1910.] The Common Mole. 31 



TREATING SEED CORN TO PROTECT IT FROM 

 BURROWING ANIMALS. 



For several seasons the Station has been working on a line 

 of experiments to determine means for preventing the theft of 

 seed corn in the ground. A preliminary circular or bulletin on 

 the subject was published a year ago, but at that time sufficient 

 progress had not been made to warrant any final recommenda- 

 tions. Since the mole is very generally charged with these 

 thefts, and since he is in reality accessory to the crime by 

 constructing highways which the real thieves follow the re- 

 sults of this seed corn treating can be very properly given here. 



These experiments have all followed one of three lines 

 baiting the pests some days in advance of planting, regular 

 planting of poisoned seed, and surface coating of seed with ill- 

 flavored substances. 



POISONED BAIT, By baiting is meant the introduction of 

 poisoned grain baits into the mole runways through small 

 openings made with a stick. This puts the bait where it is 

 sure to be found and minimizes the danger of its being taken 

 by birds or any other animals than those for which it was in- 

 tended. This plan also tends toward conserving the mole and 

 destroying the mice, for the former is exceedingly suspicious 

 of poisoned baits, while the latter will accept them readily. 

 The sharp stick used for making the openings through the roof 

 into the burrow should be no larger than one's finger. Close 

 this opening with a clod after dropping in the kernels of 

 poisoned grain. Corn, wheat or Kafir treated with the poi- 

 soned syrup prepared at the Station for destroying pocket 

 gophers will make efficient baits. An excellent syrup for 

 poisoning these grains may also be made as follows : Dissolve 

 one ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint of hot soft water. 

 Add to this a pint of thick sugar syrup and mix the two by 

 stirring. Pour enough of this syrup over the grain to 

 thoroughly coat it. The one-quart mixture prepared as above 

 should be sufficient for a half bushel of grain. 



POISONED SEED. An exhaustive series of tests has proven 

 that seed corn intended for the regular planting may be 

 poisoned without any resulting injury to its germinating quali- 

 ties. For this poisoning, strychnia sulphate should be used. 



