April, '15] 



DEAN: POISONED BRAN MASH 



223 



isfy their hunger during the night, they did get enough to eat to keep 

 them from migrating, and with the advent of day they entered the 

 ground to wait for the next night's meal. This made conditions ideal 

 for poisoning them. In the evening the bran mash flavored with 

 oranges or lemons was sown broadcast over the infested fields. It was 

 sown in such a manner that the amount of bait prepared by begin- 

 ning mth twenty pounds of bran covered about five acres. In nearly 

 all cases the results were practically one hundred per cent effective. 

 One application was sufficient. In some cases the morning after the 

 application of the bran mash from one hundred to five hundred dead 

 worms were found per square yard. In fact, one could scarcely believe 

 so many worms were present until he saw the enormous number of 

 dead ones the next morning. 



The Black Cricket 

 In mam^ parts of Kansas last summer there appeared an unusually 

 large number of black crickets of which the most common species was 

 Gryllus pennsylvanicus. The crickets, attracted to the lights, soon 

 found their wa}^ into dwelling houses, warehouses, and stores of all 

 sorts. In houses they concealed themselves during the da}^ under 

 heavy pieces of furniture and in closets. Frequently they were found 

 in large numbers in the basement. Seemingly they sought the base- 

 ment not only to find suitable hiding places but also to get away from 

 the heat. In the dwelling houses and dry goods stores they cut cur- 

 tains, clothing, and fabrics. In two instances at Manhattan they 

 seriously injured rubber goods stored in the basement. 



After a few experiments it was found that the most practical and 

 effective method of destroying them was to distribute poisoned bran 

 mash prepared in the following manner: 



Bran • 1 lb. 



Paris green 1 oz. 



Syrup 3 oz. 



Orange or lemon i of a fruit 



Water 1| pts. 



Here, again, the bait when flavored with orange or lemon seemed 

 not only more attractive but also more appetizing and thus was readily 

 eaten by the crickets. Small amounts of the bran mash were put in 

 shallow pans or dishes and placed in the closets, behind and under 

 heavy pieces of furniture, in the basement or any place frequented by 

 the crickets. In thd basement the bait was also placed in teaspoonful 

 lots in the corners, behind boxes and other hiding places. The crickets, 

 like the grasshoppers, do not eat the poisoned mash so readily when it 

 is dry, thus it should be distributed in the evening because the crickets 

 work mostly at night. 



