NUESEEY PRACTICE ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 77 
mals (seed and berries) ripens. Where mice work under a mulch 
and girdle nursery stock during the winter, the scattering of water- 
proof poisoned wheat throughout and under the mulch has been 
found effective in destroying them at the Monument Nursery. This 
bait is prepared as follows, in accordance with Circular 78 of the 
Biological Survey : 
Wheat 1 bushel. 
Tallow 1 quart. 
Saccharine 1 2 teaspoonfuls. 
Strychnia (pulverized) 2 ounces. 
The wheat should be slightly warmed, the saccharine and strych- 
nia added, and the whole stirred thoroughly, and then the melted 
tallow applied. 
Mice and chipmunks are also destroyed b}^ sinking large cans to 
the level of the ground, partly filling them with water, and distribut- 
ing seed on its surface. In attempting to secure the seed the 
rodents fall into the water and are drowned. About 700 were de- 
stroyed in this manner at the Pocatello Nursery in one season. 
Small baited spring traps placed near or upon the seed beds are quite 
effective in destroying mice. 
At the old Garden City Nursery poisoned corn proved effective 
against kangaroo rats. At the Fort Bayard and the Pilgrim Creek 
Nurseries gophers are successfully combated by the use of gopher 
traps. At the Pilgrim Creek Nursery moles are effectively con- 
trolled by trapping. Carbide fumes were tried for driving out moles 
at the Page Creek Nursery, but were not effective. At the Converse 
Flats Nursery potato parings at the rate of one-half bushel to 1 ounce 
of strychnia (alkaloid) and 1 teaspoonful of saccharine are used to 
destroy digger squirrels. The parings are distributed in the burrows 
of these animals. At this nursery poisoned cracklings are found 
effective against chipmunks. This is prepared in accordance with 
the formula in Circular 82 of the Biological Survey, as follows : 
Coarse crackling meal f quart. 
Strychnine (alkaloid) 30 grams (ig ounce). 
Chop lard cracklings (fried clown suet) to coarse meal (containing chunks 
one-fourth to one-half inch square). Slowly sprinkle with the powdered 
strychnine and mix constantly to distribute it evenly. Add one-fourth quart 
of fine crackling meal and mix well to cover the strychnine and disguise its 
bitter taste. 
For some of the latest methods developed for combating rodents 
the Forest Service is indebted to Mr. S. E. Piper, of the Biological 
Survey. These are as follows : 
Mix 1 heaping tablespoonful of gloss starch in one-half teacup of cold water 
and stir with 1 pint of boiling water to make a thin, clear mucilage. Remove 
1 Saccharine is not essential. 
