60 
Several other parties also used this poisonous mash, and so far as I was able to 
learn, it gave eDtire satisfaction in every instance. 
By exercising- only ordinary precautions there need be no fear of endangering the 
lives of either man or any of the domestic animals in using this poisonous prepara- 
tion. It should be mixed in a close room to prevent the arsenic from being blown 
about by the wind. There is no need of touching the arsenic or the mixture with the 
hands, as the mixing and distributing is accomplished by means of spades, shovels, 
wooden paddles, etc. 
Of course this mixture should not be put out in places where poultry or any of the 
domestic animals can gain access to it. Upon the Buhach plantation were four grey- 
hounds and several cats that were allowed to roam about the plantation where this 
mixture had been put out for the locusts ; still, at the time that I left the plantation— 
about 4 weeks after the poisonous mixture had been put out — not one of them had 
been killed either by eating of the mixture itself or of the locusts that had been poi- 
soned by it. 
There were also several barnyard fowls upon this plantation, but not one of them 
was poisoned from having eaten locusts that may have found their way to tbe poul- 
try range after having eaten of the poisonous mixture. Mr. Boynton, whose farm 
adjoins the Buhach plantation on the west, stated to me that many of the locusts 
which had eaten of the poisonous mixture would fall into an irrigating ditch that 
flowed through his poultry yard, and many of the locusts were thus carried within 
the reach of his fowls ; still he was not aware that any of the latter had died from the 
effects of having eaten of the poisoned locusts. 
In fact, I did not learn of a single instance where this mixture had caused the death 
of any person, nor of any domestic animal, although it was used very extensively in 
many parts of the San Joaquin Valley. Neither were the birds killed in any consid- 
erable numbers from having eaten either of the mixture itself or of the locusts that 
had been poisoned by it. During the 4 weeks following tbe putting out of this mix- 
ture upon about 300 acres of the Buhach plantation, I found only about half a dozen 
dead birds that had evidently met their death through the agency of this mixture; 
these consisted of three or four meadow larks, a bee-bird, and a field sparrow. 
Eabbits and hares, or "jack rabbits," as they are commonly called, were destroyed 
in large numbers by this mixture. After the greater number of locusts upon the 
Buhach plantation had been destroyed the work of extermination was carried into a 
large patch of wild sunflowers adjoining the plantation on the north, and as one of 
the results, at least two dozen hares paid the penalty with their lives. 
The four greyhounds belonging to the plantation were among these poisoned hares 
almost every day ; still I never saw one of them attempt to feed upon the poisoned 
hares; certain it is that not one of them met his death from this cause. 
As the mixture is saturated with water before it is put among the plauts infested 
with locusts, there is no danger of its being blown about by the wind ; and there is 
also very little danger of its being deposited upon the fruit by the feet of birds and 
insects that may have alighted upon the mixture and afterwards flown to and 
alighted upon the fruit. As the mixture becomes dry its particles adhere together, 
forming a solid mass which could nob be blown about by the wind. 
I have never seen this poisonous mixture used in grain fields, but know of no reason 
why it would not prove very effectual in such fields. Great care should be exercised 
in using it in alfalfa fields, but if it were placed upou small pieces of boards it could 
doubtless be used witli ent're safety in such fields ; but of course it would not be safe 
to pasture any animal in such fields, even after the poison had been removed, 
