SQUIRRELS AND GOPHERS. 113 



pounds. Dissolve the strychnine in the vinegar, pulver- 

 izing is in the vinegar, or it will gather in a lump. See 

 that it is all dissolved. Dissolve the cyanide of potassium 

 in a little water. Beat the eggs. Mix all the ingredients 

 together thoroughly before adding to the barley. Let it 

 stand twenty-four hours, mixing often. Spread to dry 

 before using, as it will mold if put away wet. In wheat 

 districts use wheat, and in barley districts use barley, 

 as they eat it better. Look out for the poultry and stock. 



Gophers. Some gardeners are very successful in gopher 

 trapping. It is an act which has to be learned by expe- 

 rience and patient observation. The following sugges- 

 tions are made by an expert and they may be helpful to 

 beginners : 



Gophers come to the surface in the night and generally 

 close their holes in the morning soon after daybreak. 

 They frequently emerge again about noon, and a third 

 time late in the afternoon. It is best to set the trap in 

 an open hole, as the gopher will be sure to return to fill 

 it. Still the holes may be opened if the dirt is still fresh, 

 with a good prospect of the gopher's return. Therefore, 

 the trapper may make his rounds three times a day, as 

 above indicated. 



In the second place, care should be exercised in pre- 

 paring the hole for the insertion of the trap. The trapper 

 should assure himself that he has found a straight hole 

 for a distance of at least ten inches, with no lateral 

 branches, otherwise the gopher in pushing out the dirt 

 will likely enough thrust the trap to one side, cover it 

 up or spring it without being exposed to its grasp. 



In the third place, the trapper should be supplied with 

 at least two varieties of traps one for the larger gophers 

 and the other for the smaller ones. The common iron 

 gopher trap, which springs downward, is excellent for 

 the former, and the small wire trap, which springs up- 

 ward, is generally successful with the latter. It is taken 

 for granted that the size of the hole is indicative of the 



