POISONING AND TRAPPING — 301 
grain. This preparation may be used immedi- 
ately. Another way is to add more water and 
leave the wheat over night to absorb the strych- 
nine. 
Green alfalfa or alfalfa hay for poisoning 
prairie-dogs should be chopped into short 
lengths and sprinkled with strychnine water or 
sirup until thoroughly wet. A large metal 
washtub should be used as a mixing vessel. 
An ounce of strychnia sulphate dissolved in a 
half gallon of water will prepare 30 pounds of 
green alfalfa; or the same quantity of strych- 
nine dissolved in 3 or 4 gallons of water will 
prepare 20 pounds of alfalfa hay. 
For the smaller ground-squirrels, use— 
1 ounce strychnia sulphate, 
35 pounds clean wheat, 
2 gallons water. 
Dissolve the strychnine in the water in a large mix- 
ing vessel. Then pour in the wheat and allow all to 
simmer for an hour, the vessel being covered. Stir 
occasionally. The water will probably be entirely ab- 
sorbed by the grain, but if not, a little corn-meal will 
take up the extra moisture. If preferred, the strych- 
nine may first be dissolved in a pint of boiling water, 
the ingredients then mixed in a large vessel, and all 
