Show NOW IS THE TIME TO POISON POCKET S nr they are a destructive pest but can be easily and successfully controlled pocket gophers which burrow under t the h e suz surface f ac e 0 of f the g ground rou n d e eating a ti n g the r roots 0 0 of f p plants la n ts an and d t throwing h ro w i n g tupe up mounds of earth take an enormous toll from farm crops annually the amount of irrigation water that is caned off by these underground runways is an enormous loss they can be easily controlled by poison as has been successfully demonstrated by a great many farmers throughout the state of itoh S R boswell the sevier county agricultural ri agent reported the following which given a good idea of the results that can be obtained A certain farmer had an 80 acre field which was badly infested with gophers 78 acres of this 80 acre field was treated at a total cost of labor and material of 1000 2 acres was left untreated as a check plot the following season by actual count it was found that on the 2 acres that had not been treated there were six active gophers and on the 78 acres that had been treated there were only fifteen active gophers the poison bait is prepared by sifting strychnine on carrots which have been cut into small pieces about 14 by 38 3 8 inches square this poisoned bait is placed in the runway of the gopher to locate this underground runway an iron probe is used one end being about the size of a broom stick it is essential that a good probe be used as it makes the work easier and better results are obtained an iron probe made in the following manner makes a very satisfactory tool take a 12 or 14 inch piece of 34 3 4 inch gas pipe that is about 36 inches long blunting the other end of the gas pipe with this probe the underground runway can be located in the following manner taking the new mounds we know that these mounds alternate with the underground runway so by lining up these mounds we know that the runway will be ba about midway between a series of mounds with the small end of the probe we locate the runway and then use the larger end to make a large opening so that the bait can be dropped into the runway after which the hole is closed so no light can enter the runway thus we have the poison before the pocket gopher so that it is impossible for him to miss it and satisfactory results are obtained each pocket gopher makes from 10 to 20 mounds and two baits at different locations in each system give the best results in cooperation with the U S biological survey prepared poison in sifter top cans hos been placed with each county agricultural agent for distribution trib ution selling at loc per can the amount in one carton is sufficient to treat a good many acres of infested land early spring when the pocket gopher is active and before hay and grass hide the mounds is an ideal time to kill this destructive pest I 1 |