KILLING GOPHERS 311 



and add a little at a time to the poisoned starch until effervescence ceases, 

 then add the syrup and saccharine, mix well and apply to the grain, stirring 

 constantly until the poison is evenly distributed throughout, and the grain is 

 thoroughly dry. 



Each quart of the poisoned grain is sufficient for 40 to 50 baits. 

 This quantity scattered along squirrel trails or runs but not close 

 to the holes, will not endanger the stock but will kill poultry. 



Trapping Gophers. Some gardeners are very successful in 

 gopher trapping. It is an art which has to be learned by experience 

 and patient observation. The following suggestions 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 preparing 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 upward, is generally 

 successful with the latter. It is taken for granted that the size of the hole 

 is indicative of the size of the gopher. Either trap should be inserted nearly 

 its full length into the hole, pressed down firmly, and a little dirt piled at 

 the outer end to prevent its being easily pushed out. After the trap is set 

 it is well to cover the opening with some grass or weeds. Sometimes the 

 holes require a little enlarging, but care should be taken to make the fit 

 as close as possible, that the body of the gopher may be kept near the center, 

 and thus more exposed to the prongs of the trap. 



In the fourth place, the trapper should be supplied with a small spade 

 and a little gouge-shaped implement for trimming the hole. 



Finally the trapper should be supplied with traps as numerous as the 

 extent of the pest demands. He should not be discouraged by lack of suc- 

 cess at first. Perseverance is as essential in this work as in any other, and 

 will generally win. We have in mind the successful capture of a big gopher 

 after trapping for him a week, changing the trap two or three times a day; 

 he had then destroyed about fifty hills of corn. 



Poisoning Gophers. Poisoning is an easier method of de- 

 stroying gophers, and it is very satisfactory if faithfully done. The 

 The poison is strychnine in crystal form, which can be pulverized 

 in the small bottle in which it is bought by using the head of a nail. 

 Take out a very small amount on the tip of a knife blade and insert 

 it into raisins, or pieces of carrot, potato, alfalfa stems, or almost 

 any succulent vegetable substance which is handy at the time. Find 

 where the gopher has been at work last, and remove the loose earth 

 from the surface, to find where it has come from; then dig down 



