Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-11-12
Al grculturslo
FROM THE SOUTHERN PLANTER
RAT PROOF CORN uOIlsE AND AMI
FAUOY DAIRY.

Mr.. Botts,--When we speak Of a rat proof
corn house in This action, we are often told Of
a certain gentleman about here. who b1ssted
that he had the brst rat proof corn hou,c in The
country. and invited several cen,leaen TO see
il. When they complied Win his request they
found il empty. "Well,' said one oftke gen
tlemen, "CoIonel yours is certainly a rat proof
corn house, for rat could not live ia ~
And il passes "a ss though il is the general
opinion that there are no other sort Of raj prooi
corn houses ip the country. ! moved 10 my
present residence nearly four years ago. and
found more signs Of rats on my farm .han
ever saw before, and more destruction OF gram
BY them. put one hundred aud thirty bar.
iels OF corn 10 large torn house winch
found on the place, and IN i've or SIX mouths,
by the time | and the rats had pretty well used
il M. il became 30 offensive that did not hike
10 use bread made Of it. ] resolved not &c
stand IT, and erected two lattice corn houses,
which now are very common IN this seeuoni
which claim TO be my own invention, TWEEN
weight wears ago. They are forty feet long
twelve wide, and ten fee, pitch, the roof ex
tending three feet over the body entirely around
the posts extend 10 the ground. forming legs
two and half feet long, with false legs IN the
middle--all setting upon flat rocks. Filling
closely around these legs, plates Of TN ar.
sprigged to the under part OF the s!lls. One OF
those houses IS built near very old barn IN
the low grounds, the basement OF which IS oi
rock. and a great harbor for rats | filled II
with corn in the fall Of ~, and filled the
other las, fall. have just emitted the former
and one end Of the other, and not Il vestige OF
sign Of rat or mouse has been seen in either
house. A further description OF the house
would make this communication too long, but
would give it, if required ! think / have
saved nearly one third Of the expense Of build
ing in two years, besides the comfort OF eating
nice bread, and am very fond Of good corn
bread.
| presume all housekeepers find it more OF
less difficult to keep clear OF that little insect
the ant, of which there are many sorts. They
get into sugar, molasses, honey, preserves, sc
&c, to the very great annoyance OF the ladies
! have seen many inventions used TO keel
them out, without success. We have nice
close store room, sideboard, and TN safe in oul
cellar adjoining our dining room, yet we can
not keep the articles named III any OF thos'
places | erected dairy three years ago ii
my back yard under large locust, with two
apartments, one above the other; this dairy
has four legs Of wood extending two feet be
low the body, and plate of iron with hole
| drive gudgcon or spike Of iron eight niche:
long, three quarters 10 one inch square, viii
shoulder Of three inches from the top, so tina
only three inches can go into the leg OF tn
dairy, and five inches are leitout which stands
upon fat stone. intended TO have put ia
on those IRON legs as often as necessary, Il
prevent the ant from ascending, but omnlt
led it and am gratided TO say have blunderet
upon plan to keep clear of the ant. w
have used it for three years, and not an nsec
of the kind has ever been seen IN 1t. Mrs, i
SAYS She could not do without the dairy with
out great Inconvenience. Now. can clearl!
see why a raj or mouse can't climb the Tin
but cannot tell you why an ant eia not as
cend cold IRON FIVE inches long yet am salts
fed of the fact. and would not publish 1t I'm
I'll fairly tried II.
If YOU think these facts about such smaI
matters, are worth any thing 10 the public, yoV
may use them as YOU please perhaps you ha
rather give extracts, IT so, do as YOU please.
would trouble you oitcuer, but know US
too many words to convey my IDEAS.
". TlMBERLAkE.