NOTE. 
PREPARATION OF POISONED BAIT FOR SMALL MAMMALS. 
The following method of preparing a poisoned bait for prairie-dogs, gophers, 
rats, and mice is recommended by the U. S. Department of Agriculture: 
Dissolve one ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint of boiling water, add a 
pint of thick sugar-sirup and stir thoroughly. The above quantity is enough to 
poison half a bushel of grain or corn, but smaller proportional quantities of grain 
and sirup may be mixed as desired. Wheat, corn, oatmeal, or corn-meal may be 
used. If, after thorough mixing, the solution is not sufficient to wet all the grain 
used, add a little water. Let the poisoned grain stand over night. If the grain 
is too wet, add a little corn-meal to take up the moisture. The oatmeal bait 
may be used immediately after mixing. 
It should never be forgotten that whatever will poison vermin will poison other 
animals also, and too great care can not be used in handling any poisoned bait. The 
following poison is less dangerous to larger animals than the above, and is especially 
recommended for rats and mice. 
Take one part of barium carbonate and four parts of flour or meal, add a little 
sweetening, and mix into a dough. Cut into pieces the size of a pea for mice, and 
about four times that size for rats. 
For destroying carnivorous animals, meat poisoned with arsenic is the usual 
bait. We believe, however, that there is very little necessity for the use of such 
means of destruction in this state. Hunting or trapping will be quite as effective, 
and we believe quite as cheap in the end. 
