POISON FOR SMALL BIRDS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 2, 20 August 1917, Page 68

POISON FOR SMALL BIRDS.

Strychnine-poisoned wheat prepared as follows has been found very effective in combating the small-bird nuisance :

Put 12 lb. of wheat in a box kept for the purpose, measuring about 18 in. by 12 in. Make about a wineglassful of strong syrup by stirring three tablespoonfuls, of sugar into that quantity of warm water. Take 1 oz. of strychnine, and put about a fourth of it at a time into a porcelain mortar (placing the mortar first on a sheet of newspaper in ' case’ any may be spilled). Powder it up, and go on similarly with the other three-fourths, emptying each fourth as powdered on to another sheet of paper. It will be found easier to do it this way than to attempt to grind the whole ounce at one time. When it is all powdered, put the empty pestle and mortar into the wheat. and rub them well over with some of the wheat to clean off the powder. If a spatula, stick, or bit of tin has been used to scrape the powder out with, clean that with wheat in the same manner. Splash the syrup in small portions at a time over the wheat, and mix up thoroughly with both hands, standing the box all ways to get at the bottom layers, till the wheat is all "just moist (not wet) and very sticky to the touch. Sift some of the powdered strychnine over the top layer with the spatula or bit of tin, and work with the hands; sift some more, and repeat till it is all in. Rub the paper with the wheat, and set fire' to the paper.. Then give the-lot a good working with the hands.. Thoroughly wash the hands and" utensils and take every other precaution. The wheat , can be scattered in the usual way. (Annual Report of Chemistry Section, 1908