THE EXTERMINATION OF GOPHERS. 
CARBON BISULPHIDE AS AN EXTERMINATOR. 
[Report of the Chemist. Canada Department of Agriculture, Central 
Experimental Farm.] 
“A method that Is strongly advocated by those who have 
practiced it in the United States is one employing carbon bisul- 
fide. It is held to be cheaper, more efficacious and less dangerous 
to use than strychnine. 
“Carbon bisulfide is a highly inflammable liquid, with a very 
disagreeable smell. Though not corrosive, its vapor is detri- 
mental to health when breathed in quantities. It however, can 
be used without any danger, provided ordinary care is exer-' 
cised — more especially with regard to fire and flame. 
“The method is as follows: Saturate a small ball of cotton 
waste with the bisulfide, and throw it into the burrow in the 
evening; then close the mouth of the hole with earth. 
"Dry balls of horse manure have been used successfully 
instead of cotton.” 
Respecting this method, I would make two quotations. Dr. 
C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Division of Ornithology and Mam- 
malogy, Washington, D. C., writes me as follows: — 
"As a general rule, we do not recommend either arsenic or 
strychnine for the extermination of pocket gophers. We prefer 
the sulfide of carbon as cheaper and more efficacious. A handful 
of rags or wet waste wet with the bisulfide should be thrust into 
a fresh burrow ; the mouth of the burrow should then be stopped. 
The fumes from the bisulfide being heavier than the atmospheric 
air, float down along the tunnel to its utmost ramifications, des- 
troying all animals there.” 
“In a letter from Prof. Niswander, of the Wyoming Experi- 
ment Station, I have the following testimony: — 
“Over 2,000 burrows have been treated by me in 1893 by 
bisulfide, and 99 per cent, of the trials have been successful. 
"In a few instances the holes have been apparently opened 
from the outside, and these were all counted with the unsatis- 
factory trials. I have no hesitation in recommending carbon 
bisulfide for burrowing animals.” 
Further, he says: 
“The most Important thing in the use of strychnine is to 
get the gophers to eat it; with the bisulfide this is not necessary. 
Both arsenic and strychnine are dangerous to stock running 
loose, the bisulfide entails no such risk.” 
After the hay is up and the oats taken care of, a couple of 
days can be spent to excellent advantage in killing off the 
gophers that disfigure the meadows with their hills. About the 
easiest way to fight them is by the use of chemicals and the 
most effective of these is carbon bisulphide, as recommended by 
state and governmental entomologists. Concerning it Dr. Mer- 
riam, of the division of Ornithology, Washington, D. C., writes: 
“As a general rule, we do not recommend either arsenic or 
strychnine for the extermination of pocket gophers. We prefer 
the sulfide of carbon as cheaper and more efficacious. A handful 
of rags or waste wet with the bisulfide should be thrust into 
a fresh burrow; the mouth of the burrow should then be stopped. 
The fumes from the bisulfide being heavier than atmospheric air, 
float down along the tunnel to Its remotest ramifications, destroy- 
ing all animals there.” 
