Two of a Kind.
Mrs. Boggs—I hate to have a man
always complaining about some little
thing. Now, my husband is continual
ly harping on the lace curtains.
Mrs. Woggs—Yes, and my husband
has keen kicking on our front door
every morning at three o'clock for the
last 20 years.—Puck.
Why He Won.
Abou Ben Adhem set forth his
claim.
“I never lied about what a good
time I had on my vacation,” he cried.
And, lo, etc.
Nebraska
r
If you wish to be
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Use
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He Certainly Knows
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Send *his add to us and we will
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a ttention. All supplies for the Amateur strictly
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THE PAXTON g ;,X!
Rooms from $1.00 up single, 75 cents up double.
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ti/rita for full informa*
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Cor. Twenty-Fifth and Cas* Streets,
OMAHA, NEBRASKA
AMAGE by field mice
attracted the attention
of the ranchmen in
the lower part of Hum
boldt valley, Nevada,
early in the spring of
1906, and became se
vere during the fol
lowing summer. In the
fall and winter of 1906,
and became severe
during the following
summer. In the fall
and winter of 1906-'07
damage had increased
until fields here and
there in the valley were seriously in
jured.
By October, 1907, a large part of the
cultivated lands in this district had
been overrun by vast numbers of
mice. The yield of hay had been re
duced by one-third; potatoes and root
crops were largely destroyed; many
alfalfa fields were ruined by the mice
eating the roots of the plants, and the
complete destruction of this, the chief
crop in the valley, was threatened.
The height of the plague was
reached in November, when it was es
timated that on many large ranches
there were from 8,000 to 12,000 mice
to each acre. The fields were riddled
by their holes, scarcely a step apart,
averaged 150 to 175 to the square rod.
Ditch embankments were honey
rombed, and the scene was one of
devastation. Serious losses in hay and
root crops during the summer proved
but a slight forerunner of the damage
which began in the fall with the dis
appearance of green food. Burrowing
BW^LORaRRDYl
POPLAR KILLED|
%3YFIELD MICE V
£>/STf?!BUTJtiG PQ/30H TO HILL MICE
down about the plants, and extending their underground
runs from rodt to root, they either killed or seriously in
jured the alfalfa. By November they had destroyed so
large a percentage of the plants that many fields were
plowed up as hopelessly ruined. They attacked also the
roots of trees, seriously injuring or quite destroying or
chards. They killed most of the young shade trees planted
along ditches, and so completely girdled large Lombardy
and silver poplars that in some cases they caused the
death of even such hardy trees.
The great majority of ranchmen knew neither what to
expect from such great numbers of mice nor how to check
them. Such plagues had usually been allowed
to run their course until brought to an end by
natural agencies. Hence it is not surprising
that in Humboldt valley no concerted or sys
tematic effects to suppress the plague in its
earlier stages were undertaken, but after the
mice swarmed in thousands over the fields
many attempts were made to destroy them by
distributing wheat poisoned with phosphorus.
These, however, were spasmodic and generally
proved futile, as the fields experimented on
were quickly reinvaded from adjoining lands.
While a few fields favorably located were
saved by early poisoning, the results of such
unsystematic efforts amounted to practically
nothing in overcoming or even materially
checking the plague.
The preparation in general use by ranch
men consisted of wheat treated with a strong
solution of yellow phosphorus in carbon bi
sulphide, a cheap and effective poison for field
mice, but inflammable, explosive, and danger
ous to birds. As a result of its extensive em
ployment in the valley, California quail, an in
troduced species, were decimated, and mag
pies, crows, meadow larks, and smaller seed
eating birds suffered extremely. On one occa
sion 67 horned larks were found dead on about
four acres a few hours after the poisoned
grain had been, distributed. Fortunately hawks,
owls, gulls, and ravens were not affected, but
many skunks and domestic cats were killed as
the result of eating mice dying or dead of phos
phorus. Several accidents occurred in han
dling the solution, and cases of fatal poisoning
of live stock were frequent.
Several attempts by ranchmen to 'induce con
tagious diseases among the mice by means ot
advertised bacterial preparations failed.
Chiefly through the co-operation of Mr.
George S. Webb, manager of the large Rodgers
ranch, systematic experiments to destroy the
pests, undertaken early in January, 1908, by
the biological survey, demonstrated that such
mouse plagues can be controlled and the great
er part of the losses prevented. The experi
ments of the survey proved that mice can be
effectively destroyed in winter by alfalfa hay
poisoned with strychnia sulphate, and this
preparation was generally recommended in the
valley. On the Rodgers and Anker ranches a
force of 7 to 15 men was employed to distrib
ute the poison in the fields, with most satisfac
tory results, and without the dangers incident
to the use of phosphorus and grain.
.. 1 'J..'
MICE WHICH PRODUCED PLAGUE
Ry March 15
poisoning, sup
plemented by
natural agen
cies, had de
stroyed the
mice on sever
al thousands of
acres where
they were most
were received from King river, Quinn river,
and Carson and Smith valleys, Nevada; from
Weber river valley and from Sanpete and
Utah counties, Utah, and from Honey Lake
valley, California. In none of these localities
was the damage so extensive as in Humboldt
valley, though plagues of like severity were
plainly threatened.
On learning of severe damage by mice in
Carson valley, a hundred miles southwest of
Lovelocks, in April, 1908,
tne i niteu states rnoiog
ical survey sent several
assistants to the valley to
check the threatened
plague. Carson and Hum
boldt valleys are alike in
having large areas in al
falfa bordered by desert
lands, on which field mice
do not live. On a tract of
about 2,500 acres near
Minden mice were found
I to be excessively abun
dant, and in some fields
10 to 25 per cent, of the
alfalfa plants had already
been destroyed. Several
abundant, and the plague was broken before
the remaining alfalfa fields had been overrun.
In scattered centers mice continued in de
structive numbers until May, but without re
gaining to any considerable extent by repro
duction they steadily decreased. Later in the
summer they had almost disappeared from the
valley.
The scourge of mice had swept over about
four-fifths of the cultivated area in the lower
part of Humboldt valley. Of 20,000 acres in
alfalfa, about 15,000 were so seriously injured
as to require plowing and replanting. Over
most of this area the alfalfa was replaced by
grain crops for the season of 1908 at great ex
pense and loss, since good alfalfa lands pay
gross returns of from $60 to $70 per acre,
while good grain crops return only $35 or $40
per acre.
The shortage of hay on the Rodgers ranch,
where 2,200 acres were in alfalfa, was estimat
ed at 2,000 tons. On Ankpr’s ranch of 650 acres
it was estimated at 600 tons. Other ranches
suffered in proportion, and the loss of hay in
the valley amounted to not less than $50,000.
W. C. Pitt, who farms 1,400 acres of alfalfa,
estimates his complete loss at $20 per acre,
or $28,000. John Font estimates his damage
on 1,000 acres at $20,000, and Mr. Anker con
siders his loss on 650 acres to be $8,000. Mr.
Webb, on the Rodgers ranch figures the com
plete loss on 2,200 acres, part of which pays
considerably short of the best returns, at
$30,500.
A careful consideration of the losses in hay,
pasturage, root crops, and trees, the expense
of restoring alfalfa fields to their former con
dition, and deducting the value of a grain
crop for 1908 shows the average loss to be
about $20 per acre. On this basis the damage
to the valley amounted to $300,000. '
Simultaneously with the plague in the lower
part of Humboldt valley mice appeared in
enormous numbers farther up the Humboldt
river and its tributaries about Winnemucca,
Battle Mountain, and in Paradise and Little
Humboldt valleys. As the lands infested in
those districts were chiefly great natural hay
meadows of red top and wild clover, the dam
age was less severe. However, gardens and
isolated alfalfa fields were seriously Injured.
Later, reports of mice in alarming abundance
smaller centers were similarly affected, while
over the valley generally the mice were some
what in excess of normal numbers. This was
a condition similar to that presented in Hum
boldt valley during the spring of 1907, and
young of all sizes were abundant. Examina
tion of many females, a large percentage of
which were pregnant, showed an average of
from six to seven young, while in a number as
many as ten were found. Although alfalfa wras
already well grown, furnishing the mice abun
dant food, by systematic poisoning, under the
direction of the biological survey men, they
were so effectively reduced in the infested
areas as not to be dangerous again during the
season—in other words, a plague was averted.
The results actually obtained here prove
that mouse plagues can be checked. It takes
several seasons to produce a general plague of
mice, and damage is noticeable for at least a
season before a serious outbreak occurs.
Though natural agencies may be depended
upon to overcome such abnormal numbers
finally, yet, unless active repressive measures
are taken, enormous damage to crops will re
sult. Control, easy at first, becomes more and
more difficult as the mice increase in numbers,
and, after a plague is well established, is very
expensive.
In Humboldt valley, in the beginning, a lit
tle poisoning with green alfalfa or crushed
wheat would have sufficed to prevent the
plague. During the fall and winter of 1906-’07,
when the mice seriously injured fields here
and there, they could have been destroyed
with poisoned alfalfa hay. Even during the
summer of 1907 concerted and vigorous poison
ing would have destroyed them at a cost small
indeed in comparison with the damage they
inflicted later.
Of the many remarkable features of the
mouse plague in Humboldt valley, none is of
greater significance, than the large numbers of
birds and mammals which gathered to feed
on the mice. Under rows of trees, about the
bases of fence posts, and scattered every
where in the fields were regurgitated pellets
of mouse fur and bones, affording abundant
proof of the services rendered by birds, while
many holes and destroyed nests in the fields
showed the work done by skunks and coyotes.
So apparent was the assistance rendered by
these creatures that it attracted the
attention and secured the protection
of the farmers, many even sparing the
coyote, whose services as a mouse de
. stroyer deserve to be more widely
recognized. In Nevada coyotes were
frequently seen catching mice in the
daytime, and their droppings were
composed entirely of mouse fur and
bones.
It is deplorable that, even when
their usefulness is as apparent as
here, some persons continue to de
stroy valuable birds and mammals.
During the investigations in Humboldt
valley no less than 29 large hawks
were found hanging on wire fences,
their useful lives ended by thought
less gunners.
The striking evidence of the valu
able services of the natural enemies
of mice seen during this plague is but
an example of their constant value.
Hawks, owls, gulls, crows, ravens, her
ons and shrikes among birds, and
skunks, coyotes, foxes, weasels, bad
gers, and wildcats among mammals,
habitually prey upon field mice, and
are most valuable in preventing undue
increase of these pests.
Thorough studies have shown
hawks to be most beneficial allies of
the farmer, orchardist and nursery
man. Most species rarely, and many of them
never, attack poultry. In the Nevada valleys
all species of hawks and owls are distinctly
beneficial, and here rigorous protection cannot
be too strongly advocated.
Among mammals the weasel and the skunk
are especially worthy of protection. They are
most persistent enemies of mice, and are less
likely to be driven out by civilization than are
other mammals. When particular individuals
raid poultry houses it may be necessary to
destroy them, though usually it is easy to
make such houses proof against their attacks.
Far from being a menace, they are generally
most beneficial mammals, and, living, are
worth many times the value of their pelts.
It is gratifying to note that in many locali
ties the people are learning to appreciate these
natural enemies of rodent pests, for even more
important than legislation for the protection of
valuable birds and animals is the recognition
of their services by the farmers.
In Nevada it was noticed that hawks and
owls hunted chiefly in fields near the few plan
tations of large trees to be found in the val
leys. Beneath these trees the ground was
fairly carpeted by disgorged pellets of fur and
bones, represnting thousands of mice. While
certain species of hawks seldom frequent
trees, others habitually perch in them, notably
the large rough-leg, Swainson, and red-tail,
which were the most abundant and persistent
mousers.
It was estimated that during the height of
the outbreak birds and mammals destroyed
some 45,000 mice daily. Although their com
bined assaults unaided did not suffice to abate
the plague, yet when the number of mice was
reduced by poison, and long before it ap
proached the normal, they were able not only
to prevent increase, but to cause a rapid de
cline, which continued until the mice became
so scarce that the predatory birds and mam
mals were forced to scatter and look else
where for food. It is fair to Infer that had
these friends of the farmer been protected in
the beginning they would have been able from
the first to hold the mice in check, preventing
the abnormal increase so that there would
have been no plague.
The mouse which produced the plague in Ne
vada, locally known as “black mouse” is the
Carson field mouse (microtus montanus), one
of the numerous species of short-tailed field
mice or meadow mice, a group which has
caused widespread destruction in various parts
of the world. This field mouse is rather wide
ly distributed in the valleys of Utah, Nevada,
northeastern California and eastern Oregon.
In nearly all parts of the United States short
tailed field mice are among the most abun
dant of mammals, and a number of species in
widely separated localities have occasionally
exhibited the same tendency to excessive in
crease, indicating that favoring conditions may
produce mouse plagues wherever the mice ex
ist. Even when in small numbers they de
stroy considerable clover and alfalfa and in
jure orchards, nurseries and root crops.
This is the first recorded instance of an irrup
tion of field mice in North America attaining
the proportions of a plague. The experience
indicates the probability of future and even
more disastrous outbreaks. In the extensive
reclaimed areas of the west the abundant food
and luxurious cover furnished by alfalfa field;
and the miles of Irrigation ditches, which af
ford these mice suitable homes along theii
banks, greatly favor their increase, while sur
rounding desert conditions limit the spread o.
mice beyond the cultivated areas
All Who
Would Enjoy
good health, with its blessings, must un
derstand, quite clearly, that it involves the
question of right living with all the term
implies. With proper knowledge of what
is best, each hour of recreation, of enjoy
ment, of contemplation and of effort may
be made to contribute to living aright.
Then the use of medicines may be dis
pensed with to advantage, but under or
dinary conditions in many instances a
simple, wholesome remedy may l>e invalu
able if taken at the proper time and the
California Fig Syrup Co. holds that it is
alike important to present the subject
truthfully and to supply the one perfect
laxative to those desiring it.
Consequently, the Company’s Syrup of
Figs and Elixir of Senna gives general
satisfaction. To get its beneficial effects
buy the genuine, manufactured by the
California Fig Syrup Co. only, and for sala
by all leading druggists.
AS UNDERSTOOD IN BOSTON
| The Traditional Episode of “Little
Miss Muffet” Brought Into
Every-Day Cognizance.
A diminutive specimen of juvenile
femininity yclept Miss Muffet had
placed herself in a sitting posture
upon an article of household furniture
ordinarily termed an ottoman or has
sock—
Ministering to the gratification of
her gustatory organs by ingurgitating
fhe coagulated portion of bovine lac
teal fluid mingled with the watery
serum of the same which remains
after the coagulated portion has been
segregated and withdrawn.
Happening to glance downward she
observed that a specimen of the genus
Aranea, class Arachnida, remarkable
for its ability to produce filaments of
extraordinary tenuity from its own in
terior, had taken a position upon the
ottoman or hassock in immediate prox
imity.
Which totally unexpected incident
aroused her apprehension to such an
extent that she immediately, not to
say precipitately, arose from her sit*
ting posture and departed from the lo
cality leaving the intruder in undis
puted possession of the apartment.
SUFFERED TERRIBLY.
_
How Relief from Distressing Kidney
Trouble Was Found.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wolf, 388 W. Morgan
St., Tipton, Mo„ says: “Inflammation
oi me o i a a a e r
reached its climax
last spring and 1 suf
fered terribly. My
back ached and
pained so I could
hardly get around
and the secretions
were scanty, fre
quent of passage
and painful. I was
urea all the time and very nervous. 1
beg" using Doan’s Kidney Pills, and
after taking a few boxes was cured
and have been well ever since.”
Remember the name—Doan's. Sold
by all dealers. 50 cents a box. Foster
Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
WHAT DIFFERENCE?
“Half a pound of tea, please?”
"Green or black?”
“Doesn’t matter which. It’s for a
blind person.”
As you grow for it, somewhere or
other you will find what is needful for
you in a book or a friend. — George
Macdonald.
SAVED
FROM AN
OPERATION
By Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound
Louisville, Ky. — “ Lydia E. Pink
bam*3 Vegetable Compound has cer
*1 uuniy none me a
(3 world of good and
III cannot praise it
1 enough. I suffered
fromlrregularities,
dizziness, nervous
ness, and a severe
female trouble.
I.ydiaE.Pinkham’s
Vegetable Com
pound has restored
I me to perfect
health and kept me
from the operating
[■aDie. 1 win never De witnout mis
medicine in the house.”—Mrs. Ham’e
Lee, 3523 Fourth St, Louisville, Ky.
Another Operation Avoided.
Adrian, Ga. — “I suffered untold
misery from female troubles, and my
doctor said an operation was my only
chance, and I dreaded it almost as
much as death. Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound completely cured
me without an operation.’'—Lena V.
Henry, B. E. D. 8.
Thirty years of unparalleled suc
cess confirms the power of Lydia E.
Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound to
cure female diseases. The great vol
ume of unsolicited testimony constant
ly pouring in proves conclusively that
Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Com
pound is a remarkable remedy for those
distressing feminine ills from which
Bo many women suffer. _
MODERN SCIENCE DREAM BOOK
__ rV._.__
One Being Prepared to Take the
Piace of Unauthorized Manual
Among Superstitious.
Modern science is writing a dream
book of its own to take the place of
the unauthorized and mischievous
manual in vogue among the supersti
tious. When completed it will be a
remarkable production, wonderfully in
teresting and thoroughly practical and
helpful, so states H. Addington Hruce
in an article in Success Magazine.
Science, of course, does not assert
that all dreams are significant. A good
many dreams—and especially the com
, moner dreams of falling, flying, and
the various forms of nightmare—
merely testify to some trifling dis
turbance of t^ie physical organism of
the dreamer. This has long been rec
ognized, and the text-books are full
of anecdotes showing how dreams
may be made to order, so to speak.
One experimenter, by tickling a
sleeper’s nose, caused him to dream
that tar was being plastered over his
face and then violently pulled off,
causing agonizing pain; uncovering
his knees gave him a dream of travel
ing in a stage-coach in the dead of
winter and suffering frightfully from
the cold; putting a hot-water bottle to
his feet made him dream that he was
walking over the lava of an active
volcano.
But while appreciating the inconse
quential character of dreams induced
by such means, as also by indulgence
in late suppers, the cramping of a
muscle through lying too long in one
position, or the slipping off of the bed
clothes, science insists that there are
times when even the most trivial of
dreams may be profoundly portentous.
Toy. Making City's Chief Trade.
Nuremberg is the center of the toy
trade of the world. More than half
, the employes in the toy factories are
women and girls. The wages of the fe
male toy-makers are about 5 cents
per hour. Of the estimated German
toy output of $25,000,000 a year, about
$19,000,000 is exported, more than half
going to Great Britain and the United
States.
United States’ Gold Production.
Fully one-fourth of the $13,000,000,
000 worth of gold produced in the
world since the discovery of America
has come from the mines of the Unit
ed States.