11 
FUR ANIMALS. 
Fur animals such as Mink, Foxes, Coyotes, Badger, Skunk, 
Muskrats, etc., whose fur is of value, they can be dug out 24 hours 
after treatment and the skins obtained intact, and in case of skunks 
without smell, which to most people would be quite an object. 
POCKET-GOPHERS. 
From Farm and Fireside. 
W. D. P., Wellfleet, Neb., writes : “Kindly inform me what 
animal eats off the roots of orchard trees — roots as thick as a man’s 
wrist. What are the habits of said animal, and what is the way to 
guard against ravages ? I think it is the pocket-gopher, but am not 
sure.” 
Reply : — Your trees were undoubtedly destroyed by the pocket- 
gopher. I have seen many trees destroyed in the same way in ne- 
glected orchards. This animal lives entirely underground, where 
it burrows in a manner similar ro the mole of the eastern states, only 
since it is often five times as large as a mole its burrows are tlie.more 
harmful. As it burrows it throws up piles of soil everv four or five 
feet, so that its presence is easily known. It feeds on vegetable 
matter almost exclusively, and so far as I know has not a single re- 
deeming feature, while the mole and shrew are beneficial in that 
they feed largely on grubs and other animals. My practice is to 
watch for their marks on the outskirts of the orchard, and as soon 
as seen, to open the burrow and put in a piece of cotton batting sat- 
urated with about a tablespoonful of Bisulfide of Carbon, an 1 then 
cover the hole with an inverted sod. The vapor of this material is 
very heavy and sure death to animal life. It costs about one dollar a 
gallon, and is about as dangerous to use around a fire as gasoline. 
It is the most satisfactory thing I have tried for this pest. Another 
way that I used to practice besides trapping, is to cut an apple, car- 
rot or potato, cover the cut surface with strychnine and put it on a 
pointed stick and lay in the burrow. 
Editor American Elevator and Grain Trade:— 1 noticed the 
article in the American Elevator and Grain Trade about the Texas 
man and his box with a bottle of Bisulfide of Carbon iu his grain 
bins. It is a remarkable fact that the great success with Bisulfide of 
Carbon in killing rats iu Paris, France, was what led to its extensive 
