60 The Horticulturist' s Rule-Book. 



Asafcetida for rabbits. A teaspoonful of tincture of asa- 

 foetida in ^ bucketful of liquid clay, mud, or muck of any 

 kind. Apply with a brush to the stem and branches of 

 young trees Two or three applications during winter. 



California ground squirrel remedies. Take 5 quarts clean 

 wheat, scald with water , drain. Take % cup of white 

 sugar, dissolve with sufficient water to make a syrup ; add 

 i ounce powdered strychnine, stir thoroughly until a thin 

 paste is formed. Pour this on the damp wheat. Stir 

 thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Add i pint powdered 

 sugar, stir ; add 5 to 10 drops of rhodium and 5 to 10 drops 

 of oil of anise seed. Place a few grains in each squirrel 

 hole, putting it as far in as possible. 



Bisulphide of carbon is also largely used. A small 

 quantity is poured into the barrow, and the hole is imme- 

 diately closed securely with dirt. 



Tying newspapers about trees in such manner as to al- 

 low the upper part of the paper to project loosely a few 

 inches, frightens the squirrels away. 



Poison for English sparrows. Dissolve arseniate of soda 

 in warm water at the rate of i ounce to i pint ; pour this 

 upon as much wheat as it will cover (in a vessel which can 

 be closed so as to prevent evaporation), and allow it to 

 soak for at least 24 hours. Dry the wheat so prepared, 

 and it is ready for use. It should be distributed in winter 

 in places where the sparrows congregate. 



Bird poisons. 



i. Place a shallow box on the end of a pole and put it 

 4 or 5 feet from the ground to keep the poison out of 

 the way of domestic fowls. In the box sprinkle corn 

 meal and a very little strychnine, which mixture the birds 

 eat and are very soon killed. It will not hurt dogs or cats 

 to eat the dead birds, for the reason that there is not 

 enough poison absorbed by the bird. (Californian. ) 



