MICE AGAIN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11449, 31 January 1918, Page 2

MICE AGAIN.

AUSTRALIA'S PLAGUE. NEW INVASION THREATENED. The possibility of a recurrence of tho mouse plague in New South Wales is mentioned by a representative of the Sydney Sun at Grenfell, who reports that Mr Jack Mufray, a local farmer, is already preparing for the reappearance of the rodents. There are already mice in great numbers in tho middle of the area that was so badly affected last year. The residents 'naturally dread a return of tho plague, as, apart from the enormous damage done, tho mice became an almost unbearable nuisance in tho houses. For 120 tons of liny bought last year the owner will at present accept £5, owing to tho ravages of the mice. THE LAST PLAGUE. It is now on record that there has been an invasion two years in succession, and generally many years elapse before tho recurrence of the remarkable fecundity which is rospousibla for a plague. Beside the wheat the vermin devour, thev cause immense waste by the destruction of tho bags and spilling of grain. Though it will probably never be known how much damage was causedjjlsst year, it was estimated at one period that tho loss would reach millions of pounds. Many thousands of bags which were rebagged were lit for'nothing but fowl food, while it is probable that many more thousands of bags which were saved for milling were appreciably affected in value owing to the doI predations of tho mice. It was on April sth of last year that the first serious notice was taken of a phenomenal increase in the number of mice iu the Mailee country of Victoria.

Farms were overrun and houses wore infested, with consequent great damage to crops and other property. By April 2l!nl tho squeaking horde had reached Temora, in New South Wales, leaving enormous destruction of wheat stacks in their trail.

Tno position rapidly became moreserious, and soon wheat stacks all over tho Kaverina were crumbling to destruction out of tho gnawed bags. 11(5,000,000 MICE GASSED. Scientists became interested in the problem and a chemist decided to experiment with bisulphide of carbon fumes. On May 21 it was reported that 125,000 of the animals nad been destroyed in the Hoptoun dsitrict with the acid of fumes, while in tho Forbes district the tally was 27,000 head poisoned in six nights. Tho re-bagging of tho wheat and the stacking of tho hags iu mouseproof sheds was taken in hand. Tho presence of dead mice in great numbers made the work very objectionable, and tho men found it difficult to go on o"'ina to the stench in some cases. As tho re-bagging proceeded tho plague gradually lessened, and at last disappeared as quickly as it tamo, It was reported that as a result of fumigating operations ;j(i,000,000 mice were fatally gassed in two months.