296 ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
a proportional quantity of water. In prepar- 
ing the bait it is necessary that all the oatmeal 
should be moistened with the sirup. Wheat 
and corn are excellent alternative baits, but 
must be soaked in the sirup over night. 
To use this poison in places occupied by 
poultry a good plan is to provide two boxes, 
one considerably larger than the other and each 
having two or more holes in the side, large 
enough to admit rats. The poisoned bait 
should be placed on the bottom and near the 
middle of the smaller box and the larger box 
inverted over it. Then fowls cannot get at it 
if they try. It must be remembered that old 
rats become very wise and wary, and much 
caution has to be used if you are to succeed. 
Poisoning field-mice. The most effective 
poison for the short-tailed field-mice is strych- 
“nine. In the outbreak of these pests in Ne- 
vada, the best baits proved to be alfalfa and 
crushed wheat. An ounce of strychnia sulphate 
dissolved in 5 or 6 gallons of water will effectu- 
ally prepare 30 pounds of chopped dry alfalfa 
hay; or, with 114 gallons of water, will prepare 
45 pounds of green alfalfa cut into short 
