THE GROUND SQUIRRELS OP CALIFORNIA. 



759 



such supplies was presented to those attending. In a county where the 

 centers of population were scattered and no organization existed, the 

 residents signed up their needs and a community poison mix was held 

 (Fig. 51). 



Where the county horticultural commissioner was allowed the services 

 of several inspectors a central mixing depot was established for the whole 

 county and from here the inspectors carried the preparation to those 

 desiring same in their respective districts. A variation of this scheme 

 was to have a central point for mixing the poisoned grain, from which 

 it was shipped to stores throughout the county. Stores were allowed 

 the slightest possible sum for handling the grain. In cases where the 

 amounts handled were large the average-sized batch of poisoned grain 

 mixed was six sacks, for which a specially constructed mixing box was 

 made. Both shovel and mortar hoe were used in turning the grain, 

 and enough of these boxes were built to allow for drying the grain right 

 in the bins (Fig. 52). Tulare County handled about one hundred 

 ten tons of poisoned grain in this fashion in the course of a year follow- 

 ing August, 1917. Where the output was not so great, still calling 

 for continuous preparation of the grain, a smaller bin was found most 

 handy (Fig. 53). This is the commonly used box for two or four sack 

 batches. All of the turning of the grain is handily done by a square- 

 pointed D-handled shovel, thereby insuring an absolutely uniform mix- 

 ture. That time be saved in mixing grain, drying trays were provided 

 which held two sacks comfortably and which allowed for proper drying 

 of the product. There is little to say in favor of one type of mixing 

 bin over the other. Each commissioner stands up for the type which he 

 is using, consequently both might be considered satisfactory. Of the 

 methods of distribution that by inspectors seems to have proved the 

 better, inasmuch as the amount allowed a storekeeper is eliminated and 

 the inspector for the district has a better check on the amount of poisons 

 being used in his district as well as having an indication of the interest 

 being displayed. Many counties had farm bureau organizations which 

 handled poisoned grains gratis in an effective manner. In some 

 instances the farm bureau looked after the mixing of the product in 

 co-operation with the county horticultural commissioner, distribution 

 still being handled through the farm centers. The wholesale handling 

 of poisoned grain by horticultural commissioners as well as the distrib- 

 uting of carbon disulphid during the winter months amounted to a 

 good publicity campaign. In some counties the commissioner was well 

 known to the fruit growers but not to the majority of farmers, hence 

 the squirrel work brought him in contact with all. He was in charge 

 of a county office already established to carry out the mandates of the 

 act, hence no new appointments need be made. The officer in question 

 also had been in the county for some time — it was his home — conse- 

 quently he should have the interests of the community at heart. Fur- 

 thermore, he was a county officer expending funds in the control of 

 rodents under the supervision of the board of supervisors, and no out- 

 side agency, either state or federal, had any direct interest in the 

 expenditure of the funds appropriated. 



It was clearly a matter for the county horticultural commissioner to 

 undertake. Some of these officers regarded the rodent amendment to 

 be considerable burden as it actually proved itself in a few of the 



167 



