REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 51 



strychnine, has given best results in destroying the larger " digger " 

 ground squirrels, and is most effective during the dry summer 

 season. 



A second process of applying the poison described below is an im- 

 provement over that just described in that it delays the taste of 

 strychnine, the intense bitterness of which is the greatest factor 

 detracting from success in poisoning certain rodents. During the 

 present season this poison has been used with great effect against 

 rodents which have hitherto exhibited marked aversion to strychnine 

 baits. The fact that the poison coating readily separates from the 

 bait is also of importance to the success of this preparation, especially 

 for such rodents as habitually " hull " grain. In the process of 

 hulling, sufficient strychnine to kill the animals flakes off in their 

 mouths. Grain poisoned in this way must be handled carefully to 

 avoid loosening or grinding off the poison coating. It should be 

 freshly prepared in small quantities, for use each day, as follows : 



Mix together | ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid), \ ounce of powdered 

 bicarbonate of soda, a scant I teaspoonful of saccharine, 2 heaping table- 

 spoonfuls of dry powdered starch ; and stir with enough cold water to make a 

 thin paste of the consistency of cream. Apply gradually to the material to be 

 used as bait, mixing vigorously to distribute the poison as evenly as may be 

 and to prevent the formation of lumps. 



Oats, wheat, cracked corn, and dry coarse meal of all kinds may be 

 so poisoned. For ground squirrels, chipmunks, and medium-sized 

 rodents generally, one- fourth ounce of strychnine is sufficient for 4 

 quarts of bait; for white-footed mice the amount of bait may be 

 doubled. Among baits especially attractive to the white mice ma3 T 

 be mentioned pine seeds (both whole and crushed seeds), roasted 

 peanuts, crushed to a coarse meal ; crushed wheat ; and mixtures of 

 crushed or chopped grains. 



In the work as usually done on woodland planting areas, each 

 quart of the poisoned grain is sufficient for 60 or more baits. The 

 baits should be placed in slightly scattered form along logs, on 

 stumps, on clean hard places on the surface of the ground about 

 burrows, along the animals' trails, and especially in the dry sheltered 

 places beneath logs, and in other locations not exposed to rain or 

 moisture, that they may retain their effectiveness for a long time. 



Poisoned baits of sweet potato almost invariably kill pocket 

 gophers if placed in the underground runs without too much dis- 

 turbance of the latter. Baits of carrot or parsnip may be substituted, 

 or corn, poisoned as in the first formula described, but none of these 

 are so completely successful as sweet potatoes. 



The baits of vegetables should be cut about 1 inch long and one-half inch 

 square and washed and drained. From a pepperbox slowly sift i ounce of 

 powdered strychnine (alkaloid) and one-tenth of this quantity of saccharine 



