POISONING FIELD MICE. 57 



Dissolve an ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint of boiling water ; 

 add a pint of thick sugar sirup and stir thoroughly. The prepared 

 sirup may be scented by a few drops of oil of anise or rhodium, but 

 this is not essential. A half ounce of borax is said to keep the mixture 

 from molding. 



The above quantity (a quart) of sirup is enough to poison a half 

 bushel of wheat or corn, but smaller proportional quantities of grain 

 and sirup may be mixed as needed. If after thorough mixing the 

 solution is not sufficient to wet all the grain, add a little water. After 

 standing over night, if the grain is too wet, a little dry corn meal will 

 take up the excess of moisture. If oatmeal is used as a bait, when the 

 mass is wet throughout with the sirup, it may be used immediately. 



Because of the danger of destroying native birds, such as quail, 

 sparrows, and others, the poisoned bait should not be placed in ex- 

 posed situations, but under shelters which will admit mice but exclude 

 birds. Wide boards lying upon thin cross pieces of wood are excellent 

 for the purpose. For pine mice baits may be placed in the under- 

 ground tunnels without endangering birds. For other mice pieces of 

 drain tile about 1^ inches in diameter may be laid along the trails, 

 and the baits inserted into the tiles with a long knife or spoon. Tiles 

 are recommended by the French Minister of Agriculture, but old tin 

 cans with flattened ends or small openings are excellent substitutes. 



In winter the following plan is especially recommended for or- 

 chards and nurseries : 



Cut small twigs from branches of apple trees (suckers are excellent 



for the purpose) and either dip them in the strychnine sirup or apply 



the sirup to them with a brush. Scatter the poisoned twigs near the 



trees to be protected. This plan is excellent for either field mice or 



rabbits, and it entirely obviates the danger of poisoning birds or ^ 



domestic animals. 



Othee Poisons. 



Among other poisons that have been recommended for the destruc- 

 tion of field mice are phosphorus, potassium cyanide, and various 

 mineral poisons, including arsenic. The mineral poisons as a rule 

 are less virulent than the others. 



Phosphorus, when properly used, is an excellent though rather 

 slow poison for rodents, a very small quantity producing death. It 

 is, however, dangerous to handle both because of the liability of 

 severe burns and because of the danger of serious conflagrations. Its 

 use in the West to destroy ground squirrels frequently results in the 

 burning of standing grain and in extensive prairie fires. For these 

 reasons we do not recommend its use for poisoning mice. 



Potassium cyanide is a most deadly poison, almost tasteless, and 

 with no known antidote. It is therefore dangerous to man, and its 

 general use for poisoning rodents can not be recommended. It is 

 open to the further objection that upon exposure to air it rapidly 

 decomposes and becomes less effective. 



