Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-01-29

RATs-A work has appeared in England on tho
snbjec. of Rats and Rat-Ker,, which gives some
interesting and important information IA reference 10
these pests of farmers and housekeepers The writer
states that rats will have six seven, aud eight of
young in the year, and that for three and four years
together that they will have from twelve TO twenty
three at litter and that the young ones will breed
al three months DID, and that there are more females
than males, at an average OF about ten 10 Six Now
suppose in the irst place there four lters ia the
year, beginning and ending with litter, SO making
thirteen in three years; secondly eight young ones
al birth, half male and half feInale thirdly, the
young ones to have litter at six months cid. A.
this calculation, The progeny of one pair Of rats will
number al the expiration of three years sir hundred
and tooiy SIC thousand eight hundred and eigty! The
thing has been tested, and the estimate is that eight
rats will consume day by day more than ordina-
ry man. Set down ten rats to eat as much as man
and it is found that the first pair of rats, with their
three years progeny will consume in the night more
food. the year round, than SIXTY four thousand sir
hundred and eighty men!
Rats are modes. creatures; they live and labor in
the dark they shun the approach of man. Go into
barn or granary, where hundreds are living. and
you shall not one; go 10 rick that may be one
living mass within and there shall not be visible;
or dive into cellar, that may be perfectly infested
with them, you shall moi see so much as tip Of
ta unless it be that Of stray one popping across
for more safe retreat. As men seldom see them,
they seldom think of them. But this lsay, tina. il
rats could by any means be made to live ON the sur
face of the earth, instead of holes and corners, and
feed and about the streets and fields in the open
day, like dogs and sheep, the whole nation would
be horror-scken, and ultimately, there would noe
be man, woman or child able TO brandish stuck,
but would have dog slick, gun for their destruc-
.ion wherever they met with them.
The natural enemies OF the rat are thus mustered,
the ferret, poeca,, stoa,, weasel, cat, dog, and an
The ferrc,s powers Of destruction are estimated very
lightly; the polecats very rare, prefer game
when it be had, and do little against the rat The
weasel also prefers chicken or duckling "to tight
ing with rat for meal" Hence the farmers destroy
them, and they do little against the rats. Cats, as
rule prefer hearth-rugs; and traps unless quite new,
and consequently sweet and free from the smell Of
rats are useles No! There is nothing in Natuse
capabIe of saving the nation from rats. but we'll
bred London terriers.
Observation-Disclosures ough. to know that
churnng can he done with any good churn in fve
TO fifteen minutes, as wellu the winter as in the sum-
mer, by having the temperature Of the cream right
say sixty to sixly-two degrees The temperature
Of an ordinary sitting living room, in the winter,
to be comfortable, is sixty five TO sxty-sigp degrees
and closet opening into such room would De the
best place to keep the pot in the winter 10 the sum,
mer the cream can readily be reduced TO the right
temperature, by breaking up ice and putting it into
the churn.
| thermometer which is necessary TO regulate
these matters costs bu. one dollar; and such an in-
ves,nent every farmer ough. to make who has churn-
inr TO do, and thus save labor and and time, which
is money, aud make this dreaded part of far
mers' wives and daughermuch pleasanter and easier.
Ohio Cultipator
q Frozen vegetables, &c, may be thawed ia
such manner that they will receive but very little
injury from freezing and tbswisg. If the frozen
substance be immersed in cold water, whose TEN.
peraure is but li,e above tina. of freezing, the fros
will soon be extracted without Injury Ifirozen veg
e,ables be covered up in the ground or closely GOV
cred with moss, cIotts. mats, &c., and laid in darI
cellar, the fros. will be gradually extracted wsho.
material injury to the article.
e. swell, Charley" said an anxious parent 10 Al
urchia OF some three years, on Christmas day, "wha
did you find in your stocking This morning." Sim
father" replied the hopeluI, "why found big hole.
q The father give the boy one cent.
:. e. The Chaldeans and Egypuans' year vac da
ed from the au;umpal equinox.