FIELD MICE AS FARM AND ORCHARD PESTS. 



7 



DESTROYING FIELD MICE. 



Methods of destroying field mice or holding them in check by 

 trapping and poisoning are equally applicable to meadow mice and 

 pine mice. 



TRAPPING. 



If mice are present in small numbers, as is often the case in lawns, 

 gardens, or seed beds, they may readily be caught in strong mouse 

 traps of the guillotine type (figs. 5 and 6). These should be baited 

 with oatmeal or other grain, or may be set in the mouse runs without 

 bait. 



Trapping has special advantages for small areas where a limited 

 number of mice are present, but it is also adapted to large areas 

 whenever it is undesirable to lay out poison. It is then necessary 

 to use many traps and continue their use for several weeks. If mice 

 are moderately abundant, from 12 to 20 traps per acre maybe used to 

 advantage. These should soon make decided inroads on the num- 

 bers of mice in an orchard if not practically to exterminate them. 

 For pine mice the tunnels should be excavated sufficiently to admit 

 the trap on a level with the bottom. A light garden trowel may be 

 used for the necessary digging. 



POISONING. 



On large areas where mice are abundant, poisoning is the quickest 

 means of destroying them, and even on small areas it has decided 

 advantages over trapping. 



The following formula is recommended: 



Dry grain formula. — Mix thoroughly 1 ounce powdered strychnine 

 (alkaloid), 1 ounce powdered bicarbonate of soda, and | ounce (or less) of 

 saccharine. Put the mixture in a tin pepper box and sift it gradually 

 over 50 pounds of crushed wheat or 40 pounds of crushed oats in a 

 metal tub, mixing the grain constantly so that the poison will be 

 evenly distributed. 



Dry mixing, as above described, has the advantage that the grain 

 may be kept any length of time without fermentation. If it is 

 desired to moisten the grain to facilitate thorough mixing, it would 

 be well to use a thin starch paste (as described below, but without 

 strychnine) before applying the poison. The starch soon hardens 

 and fermentation is not likely to foUow. 



If crushed oats or wheat can not be obtained, whole oats may be 

 used, but they should be of good qualit?^. As mice hull the oats before 

 eating them, it is desirable to have the poison penetrate the kernels. 

 A very thin starch paste is recommended as a medium for applying 

 poison to the grain. Prepare as follows: 



Wet grain formula. — Dissolve 1 ounce of strychnia sulphate in 2 

 quarts of boiling water. Dissolve 2 tablespoonfuls of launchy starch 



