8 



FARMERS^ BULLETIN 670. 



in J pint of cold water. Add t lie starch to the strychnine solution 

 and boil for a few minutes until the starch is clear. A little saccha- 

 rine may be added if desired, but it is not essential. Pour the hot 

 starch over 1 bushel of oats in a metal tub and stir thoroughly. Let 

 the grain stand overnight to absorb the poison. 



The poisoned grain prepared by either of the above formulas is to 

 be distributed over the infested area, not more than a teaspoonful at 

 a place, care being taken to put it in mouse runs and at the entrances 

 of burrows. To avoid destroying birds it should whenever possible 

 be placed under such shelters as piles of weeds, straw, brush, or other 

 litter, or under boards. Small drain tiles, 1 J inches in diameter, have 

 sometimes been used to advantage to hold poisoned grain, but old tin 

 cans with the edges bent nearly together will serve the same purpose. 



Chopped alfalfa hay poisoned with strychnine was successfully used 

 to destroy meadow mice in Nevada during the serious outbreak of the 

 animals in 1907-8. One ounce of strychnia sulphate dissolved in 2 

 gallons of hot water was found sufficient to poison 30 pounds of 

 chopped alfalfa previously moistened with water. This bait, dis- 

 tributed in small quantities at a place, was very effective against the 

 mice, and birds were not endangered in its distribution. 



For poisoning mice in small areas, as lawns, gardens, seed beds, 

 vegetable pits, and the like, a convenient bait is ordinary rolled oats. 

 This may be prepared as follows: Dissolve ounce of strychnine in 

 1 pint of boiling water and pour it over as much oatmeal (about 2 

 pounds) as it will wet. Mix until all the grain is moistened. Put it 

 out, a teaspoonful at a place, under shelter of weed and brush piles 

 or wide boards. 



The above poisons are adapted to killing pine mice, but sweet 

 potatoes cut into small pieces have proved even more effective. 

 They keep well in contact with soil except when there is danger of 

 freezing, and are readily eaten by the mice. The baits should be 

 prepared as follows: 



Potato formula. — Cut sweet potatoes into pieces about as large as 

 good-sized grapes. Place them in a metal pan or tub and wet them 

 with water. Drain off the water and with a tin pepper box slowly 

 sift over them powdered strychnine (alkaloid preferred), stirring con- 

 stantly so that the poison is evenly distributed. An ounce of strych- 

 nine should poison a bushel of the cut bait. 



The bait, whether of grain or pieces of potato, may be dropped into 

 the pine-mouse tunnels through*the natural openings or through holes 

 made with a piece of broom handle or other stick. Bird life will not 

 be endangered by these baits. 



CULTIVATING THE LAND. 



Thorough cultivation of fields and the elimination of fence rows 

 between them is the most effective protection against field mice. 



