63 



(MiipIoytHl in the right way aud in required amounts, it liills all of the squirrels 

 in all of their dens. It has been thought that this linowledge would benefit 

 growers of grain, alfalfa, clover or grasses in the State, and has led to the 

 present bulletin. 



Dcscrijition oj the Suhfttancc. 



Carbon bisulphide (or more accurately, disulphide) is made by passing 

 sulphur vapour over coke or charcoal which has been heated to a "cherry 

 it'd " colour in a vertical retort of cast-iron or glazed earthenware. In so 

 doing, two atoms of sulphur unite with one of carbon, giving us the compound 

 CS2. It is generally, when impure, as ordinarily sold and used, of a yellow 

 colour and of a sickening fetid odour. When pure it has almost no odour 

 and is glistening white, owing to its high refractive index. It is extremely 

 volatile, that is, passes off readil.v into a gas, and should, consequently, be 

 closely stoppered. It is extremely inflammable, its vapour taking fire at 

 140° centigrade, or 300° Fahrenheit, and it should never be used in the presence 

 of lights, pipes or cigars. Its specific gravity is about 1.2923, making it, 

 tlierefore, considerably heavier than water. lu fact, compared with water, 

 which weighs about S.35 pounds per gallon, this would weigh nearly lO.S 

 pounds to the gallon. Though more poisonous to the smaller animals and to 

 insects than to man, an unclosed jar or jug of it in a closed room could easil.v 

 cause the death of the inmates in a short space of time. By keeping it well 

 stop]H'red. and opened out-doors and away from lights or fires, there is 

 absolutely no danger. I use the special precaution to pour it out, when in 

 tlie field, on the side of me away from the wind, more to escape the sickening 

 odour than from any real danger. 



How to Use it. 



Take it to the field in a common gallon or two-gallon oil can with snout. 

 Have with you a bundle of the cheapest cotton, bouglit at' the store or taken 

 from an old unused bedquilt. Have with you also a spade or shovel to fill 

 holes, and a small measure to tell how unieh of the liquid you pour out. An 

 old tablespoon will answer, but far better is a little wiue-glass marked off into 

 "teaspoons" and "tablespoons," which can be purchased at almost any 

 ili-iiguisfs. By using this, none is wasted aud .vou can tell with exactness 

 how nnich you wish to employ. Pour out the required amount into the glass, 

 pour it into a handful of the cotton just large enough to prevent the running 

 through and loss of the rather costly liquid, stuff it down into a squirrel hole, 

 throw on two shovels of earth, tramping each tight, fill up the otiier connecting 

 holes in the same way, and every scpiirrel in the den will soon be dcaii. 



Jloiv Much to Use. 



In my exiierinients I tried to determine whether it were better to use a 

 small amount in each hole or a larger amount in one hole but the results were 

 inconclusive, as wherever the squirrels were founil they were dead. Both 

 ways have their advantages. If you poison only one hole, you are not sure 

 that all the holes you close, thinking they connect w-ith this one. really do 

 connect, and you may have to go over the field two or three times before you 

 get them all. On the one h;ind. of course, much more time is consumed in 

 putting the poison in. say. four lioles of the run-way than in one, and is 



