CHAPTER XVII 
DIRECTIONS FOR POISONING AND 
TRAPPING 
Tue most effective method of warfare 
against the multitude of rodent pests of the 
granary, garden, field and orchard, and the 
wolf-enemies of the sheepfold, is undoubtedly 
by the use of poison. The employment of this 
agent requires knowledge and care, however, 
since it is equally dangerous to animals that 
the farmer has no desire to kill, and to himself 
and his family. Fortunately for us, therefore, 
we can now avail ourselves of the results of 
much experience and of carefully formulated 
advice prepared by experts. 
Waste of effort. We are met at the outset 
by the startling statement from the Biological 
Survey that ‘‘at present fully half the expendi- 
ture in the United States for rodent poisons is 
wasted.’’ As it is added that ‘‘in the West the 
‘people of a single county sometimes expend 
$25,000 to $30,000 a year for poisons for de- 
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