CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 

 Forum Building, Sacramento, Cal. 

 RODENT CONTROL DIVISION. 



U. S. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FORMULA. 



DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING POISON TO KILL CALIFORNIA, OR 

 "DIGGER" GROUND SQUIRRELS. 



Barley, recleaned grain 



Strychnin (powdered alkaloid) 



Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). 



Saccharin 



Heavy corn sirup 



Thin starch paste. 



16 quarts 



1 ounce 



1 ounce 



1/10 ounce 



i pint 

 f pi 



pint 

 Glycerin ~ 1 tablespoonful 



In a clean vessel mix thoroughly 1 ounce of powdered strychnin (alkaloid), 1 ounce of 

 common baking soda, and 1/10 ounce of saccharin. Crush all lumps of the soda with 

 mixing spoon. To this add i pint of heavy corn sirup and stir thoroughly to a smooth 

 creamy paste free from lumps. Over this pour pint of thin hot starch paste and stir 

 well. (The starch paste is made by dissolving 1 heaping tablespoonful of dry gloss 

 starch in a little cold water which is then added to f pint of boiling water. Boil and stir 

 constantly until a clear thin paste is formed.) Add the tablespoonful of glycerin and stir 

 thoroughly, making sure that none of the heavy sirup paste still sticks to the bottom of 

 the container. Pour this mixture over 16 quarts of good cleaned barley and mix well so 

 that each grain is coated. 



For mixing small quantities an ordinary galvanized wash tub is convenient. For larger 

 quantities a tight smooth box may be used, and the mixing may be done with a spade. 



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

 SCATTERED along squirrel trails, or on clean, hard places on the surface about the 

 holes, will not endanger stock. 



N. B. Strychnin in any form other than the powdered strychnin alkaloid is not 

 effective in the above formula. 



CAUTION. 



All poison containers and all uncleaned utensils used in the preparation of poisons 

 should be kept PLAINLY LABELED and OUT OF REACH of irresponsible persons 

 and live stock, and children should be cautioned in the use of poisoned barley. 



N. B. For Oregon ground squirrels or "picket pins" use 16 quarts of oats instead of 

 whole barley. W. C. J. 



CALIFORNIA "DIGGER" GROUND SQUIRREL. 



Courtesy Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. Agr. 



The "digger" ground squirrel is found most widely distributed over California 

 and in a large measure assisted In destroying $30,000,000 worth of food products 

 last year. 



