Show LITTLE RODENTS DO MUCH INJURY Mountain Beaver or and Cotton Rat Gain Prominence as Crop Des Dest Destroyers overs CONTROL MEASURES DEVISED Small Fruits an and Market Produce Damaged in H Humid Regions of Northwest Coast Sugar Coast Sugar Cane Industry is Menaced Prepared by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment of or Agriculture Two animals not much spoken of previously have gained prominence as ns destructive rodents during the past year reports the chief of the biological cal survey One is the mountain beaver or swelled n a curious rodent livIng living living liv liv- ing In the humid regions of the northwest north north- northwest west coast const It was formerly forme considered considered considered consid consid- ered harmless but with the development development development develop develop- ment of agriculture In Its Ito region It It has become increasingly Injurious us to crops particularly small fruits and market pro produce uce Control Measures Devised Control measures have been devised and representatives of the department department depart depart- I ment have given demons demonstrations In Oregon and Washington ton where active measures were needed The other animal that has hns come Into prominence as ns a destro destroyer er Is the cotton cotton cot cot- ton rat a n small rat like rodent limited to the South Atlantic and Gulf states Its depredations are principally In connection con oon- connection with sugar cane In Florida I where experimental plantings within the past two years ears gave promise of ot very cry profitable development Serious Damage by Rats So serious has been the damage by cotton coHon rats however that the principal prin cipal company Interested in the development development de de- of the sugar cane industry In Florida has written the department that the success of the industry will r ti N h a o. o S. S Mountain Beaver or a Curious Rodent Living In Humid Regions of the Northwest Coast Which Is Attacking Attacking At At- tacking Small Fruits and Market Produce be Impossible unless some method can be bo found for successfully controlling the cotton ra rats ts Losses of from 40 to toGO 60 GO per cent of the growing cane have e been reported The bureau of biological cal nl sune survey however announces the determination of successful poisoning methods and It Is believed that through demonstrations and advice the growers will be able to control the rats and reduce the losses to a negligible ble amount |