Show RID FARM OF INJURIOUS FIELD MICE 13 f N T J W r I 1 AN af ilk i 1 l x field mice mica A meadow mouse 0 mouse prepared by the united states depart ment of agriculture field mice under certain conditions conditions nifty become extraordinarily abundant and as they are injurious to most crops methods for controlling them ore are of importance unfortunately most of natural enemies enerle 8 are being destroyed or driven away from the farma so ao that these theao mice mica are becoming more and more ota of a serious pest peat altogether there are some fifty spa cles cleo of field mice known to exist in the united states but for the farmer who to Is concerned only with getting rid of them there are only two classes meadow mice mica and pine mice the runs of meadow mice are mainly on oil the surface of the ground under grass or some sheltering litter these runs lead to shallow burrows which servo as winter homes in summer the macu uso use surface nests neata ot of dead grass graas the V i young maybo brought orth forth in althen meadow mice destroy grass cut down grain clover and alfalfa eat grain left standing in shocks injure lowers flowers and vegetables in short do alarm in a hundred ways in the lower humboldt HUKi boldt valley in nevada in they totally ruined acres of alfalfa trees and shrubbery are also attacked and large nurseries of young apple trees have been known to have lieen been almost wholly destroyed by tho mice inice cutting through the bark at or below the surface of the ground when the mice completely girdle a shrub or young tree and eat cat through tho the inner layer of the bark the action of the sp sun and wind soon boon complete the pe destruction ot of the tree or shrub it the tha injury Is nut not too extensive prompt covering of the wounds will usually save eare the tree in any base case of girdling heaping up fresh soil about the trunk so BO as ae to cover tho wounds and prevent evaporation la Is recommended as tile the simplest remedy to eava large valuable trees however bridie bridge grafting Is often resorted to pine mice ordinarily live in the woods and are not therefore found on tile the open plains though they like land that la Is not frequently cultivated they tunnel their w way ay from fence rows hedges and woods wooda into gardens and cultivated tiva ted fl fields eldis where they live on seeds roots and leaves like meadow mice they also destroy fruit trees in upland orchards they attack the trees below the surface aur Dur face so BO that their work to Is frequently not revealed until the tree Is dead means meana of extermination when the mice both meadow and pine are in small numbers trapping la is probably the easiest method of getting ting rid of them from 12 to 20 traps to an aero acre may often be set with advantage in the mouse runs where the mice are abundant or the areas large poisoning Is a quicker means of extermination tho the following formulas are recommended in farmers bulletin of the united states department of agriculture dry grain formula yx mix thoroughly one ounce powdered strychnine alkaloid oab one ounce powdered bicarbonate of soda eoda and one eighth ounce or less of saccharine put the mixture in a tin pepper box and sift it gradually over GO pounds of cru crushed shed wheat or 40 pounds of crushed oa oats to la in a metal tub mixing the grain constantly so that the abo polson poison will be evenly distributed dry mixing as above described has bas the advantage that the grain may be kept any length ot of time without ter fer menta Uon it if it to Is desired to moisten the grain to facilitate thorough mixing it would bo be well to use a thin starch paste as described below but with out strychnine before applying the poison the starch soon hardens and Is not likely to td follow it if crushed oats or wheat cannot be obtained whole oats may be used but they hey debould be of good quality As mice bull the 0 oats ats before eating cating Ahem hem it is de desirable to have bave the lene the kernels A very thin starch paste la Is recommended as a medium for applying poison to the grain Pre prepare patis JIB as follows wet grain formula dissolve one ounce of sulphate phate an AA two quarts of brilling boiling water DIA dissolve solve two tablespoonfuls of 1 I laundry starch in one half pint of cold bater reler add the starch to the b u nine solution and boll for a few minutes until tho the starch Is clear A little may bo be lidded added if desired but it Is not essential pour tho the hot starch over one bushel of oats in a metal tub and stir belr thoroughly let the grain stand overnight to absorb tho the poison distributing poisoned grain tho the poisoned od grain prepared by either cither of tho the above formulas Is to bo be distributed over the infested area nut moro more than a teaspoonful teaspoon tul at a place care being taken to put it in mouse runs and nt at tho the entrances of burrows small drain tiles 1 inches in diameter have sometimes been used to advantage v to hold poisoned grain but old tin cans with the edges bent nearly together will servo the same purpose field mice mica may also aleo bo be driven awny away by thorough cultivation of fields and the elimination bof ot fence rows in the ca caso so ot of trees clean tillage and the removal rao val from the neighborhood of weeds and grass will provo prove an effective pro precaution finally the farmer remember that there are many animals birds and snakes around tho the farm which do little or no harm barm wid and aro are most moat useful in keeping down tho the numbers of held field mice among these owls deserve special spec c lal notice mice are the chief diet both of the short eared cared and the barn owl the tha common screech owl destroys english sparrows as well as mice it stays close to orchards and farm buildings and Is therefore a useful assistant |