REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 
51 
strychnine, has given best results in destroying the larger " digger " 
ground squirrels, and is most effective during the dry summer 
season. 
A second process of applying the poison described below is an im- 
provement over that just described in that it delays the taste of 
strychnine, the intense bitterness of which is the greatest factor 
detracting from success in poisoning certain rodents. During the 
present season this poison has been used with great effect against 
rodents which have hitherto exhibited marked aversion to strychnine 
baits. The fact that the poison coating readily separates from the 
bait is also of importance to the success of this preparation, especially 
for such rodents as habitually " hull " grain. In the process of 
hulling, sufiicient strj^chnine to kill the animals flakes off in their 
mouths. Grain poisoned in this way must be handled carefully to 
avoid loosening or grinding off the poison coating. It should be 
freshly prepared in small quantities, for use each day, as follows : 
Mix together | ounce of powdered strychnine (alkaloid), i ounce of powdered 
bicarbonate of soda, a scant i teaspoonful of saccharine, 2 heaping table- 
spoonfuls of dry powdered starch ; and stir with enough cold water to make a 
thin paste of the consistency of cream. Apply gradually to the material to be 
used as bait, mixing vigorously to distribute the poison as evenly as may be 
and to prevent the formation of lumps. 
Oats, wheat, cracked corn, and dry coarse meal of all kinds may be 
so poisoned. For ground squirrels, chipmunks, and medium-sized 
rodents generally, one- fourth ounce of strychnine is sufficient for 4 
quarts of bait; for white-footed mice the amount of bait may be 
doubled. Among baits especially attractive to the white mice maj' 
be mentioned pine seeds (both whole and crushed seeds), roasted 
peanuts, crushed to a coarse meal; crushed wheat; and mixtures of 
crushed or chopped grains. 
In the work as usually done on woodland planting areas, each 
quart of the poisoned grain is sufficient for 60 or more baits. The 
baits should be placed in slightly scattered form along logs, on 
stumps, on clean hard places on the surface of the ground about 
burrows, along the animals' trails, and especially in the dry sheltered 
places beneath logs, and in other locations not exposed to rain or 
moisture, that they may retain their effectiveness for a long time. 
Poisoned baits of sweet potato almost invariably kill pocket 
gophers if placed in the underground runs without too much dis- 
turbance of the latter. Baits of carrot or parsnip may be substituted, 
or corn, poisoned as in the first formula described, but none of these 
are so completely successful as sweet potatoes. 
The baits of vegetables should be cut about 1 inch long and one-half inch 
square and washed and drained. From a pepperbox slowly sift 4' ounce of 
powdered strychnine (alkaloid) and one-tenth of this quantity of saccharine 
