POIftONINd I II l !' M l« I 
Dissolve :ui ounce of strychnia sulphate in a pint <»f boiling water; 
add :i |>int of thick Bugar — i i - 1 1 1 > and stir thoroughly. The prepared 
airup may be scented by :i fe^i drop- of oil of anise or rhodium, !>ut 
thi- is not essent ial. A half ounce of boras is said to keep the mixture 
from molding. 
The above quantity (a quart) of sirup is enough i«> poison :i half 
bushel o( wheat or corn, but smaller proportional quantities <d' grain 
and sirup may be mixed as needed. II" after thorough mixing the 
solution i- not sufficient t<> wet all the grain, add a little water. A.fter 
standing <>\ er night, if t lie grain is too wet. a little dry corn meal will 
take up the excess <>f moisture. I f oatmeal i- used as a bait, when the 
ma-- i- wet throughout with the sirup, it may he used immediately. 
Because of the danger of destroying native birds, such a- quail, 
sparrows, and other-, the poisoned bait should not he placed in ex 
I situations, hut under shelters which will admit mice hut exclude 
birds. Wide hoard- lying upon thin cross pieces of wood are excellent 
for the purpose. For pine mice baits may he placed in the under- 
ground tunnel- without endangering birds. For other mice piece- of 
drain tile about 1.', inches in diameter may he laid along the trail-. 
and the baits inserted into the tiles with a long knife or spoon. Tiles 
are recommended by the French Minister of Agriculture, hut old tin 
can- with flattened end- or -mall openings are excellent substitutes. 
In winter the following plan is especially recommended for or- 
chard- and nurseries : 
Cut small twin- from branches of apple tree- (suckers are excellent 
for the purpose) and either dip them in the strychnine sirup or apply 
the sirup to them with a brush. Scatter the poisoned twigs near the 
trees to he protected. This plan i> excellent for either held mice or 
rabbits, and it entirely obviates the danger of poisoning birds or 
dome-t ic animal-. 
OTHEB Poisons. 
Among other poisons that have been recommended for the destruc- 
tion of field mice are phosphorus, potassium cyanide, and various 
mineral poisons, including arsenic. The mineral poisons as a rule 
Ire less virulent than the others. 
Phosphorus, when properly used, is an excellent though rather 
slow poison for rodent-, a very -mall quantity producing death. It 
is. however, dangerous to handle both because of the liability of 
Bevere hums and because of the danger of serious conflagrations. It- 
tise in the West to destroy ground squirrels frequently results in the 
burning of standing grain and in extensive prairie lire-. For these 
rea-ons we do not recommend it- use for poisoning mice. 
Potassium cyanide i- a most deadly poison, almost tasteless, and 
with no known antidote. Tt is therefore dangerous to man. and \\< 
general use for poisoning rodents can not he recommended. Tt is 
open to the further objection that upon exposure 4 to air it rapidly 
decomposes and becomes le<s effective. 
