The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-07-09
562
Rats in Cocoanut Trees.

1882, entitled The maligooSe on sugar
estates i'll the West Indies, ! mentioned
on page Is that as the result of careful
enquiry, and based on returns received
from sugar estates, 1.-THE rat question III
Jamaica appears, for the present, at
least, to have been fully solved. With
regard to other industries, the question
is not so clear; nor, perhaps, lat first sight,
so satisfactory. For instance, rats, es-
peciallv the black and brown species,
have always caused considerable loss TO
cocoanut plantations by attacking the
Young nuts on the trees, and destroying
Them. sometimes in mere wantonneSSs
in immense numbers. With the spread
of the mangoose, | am informed that
more rats than formerly have taken ref
uge in cocoanut plantations, apparently
driven away from sugar estates by the
mangoose. and. as the latter cannot
climb, the rats are apparently quite safe.
This, | fear, will always be the ease, eS-
peciallv with the black rat, which nests
in trees and is a splendid climber Ii is
only in the open, where cultivation is
carefully kept up, and the rats have no
special shelter or trees 10 climb. that the
mangoose is a successful rat-kllier.
Bats. here called 'rat-bats, probably tio
onite as much harm in some districts IL
radations by these rial night-iee,ierS
there would appear to be no remedy"
Since the above was written, ! have
had reason TO look upon the depreciation
nv rats in cocoanut trees ~ one 81 the
most serious troubles Of the coooanCi
PLANTER. Numerous letters have been
addressed to me on the subject, and IN
addition TO this | estimate that AT the
Palisades Plantation under my charge
the loss caused by rats among the CO.
coanuts amount to nearly el0o per an
mum.
DIR. Ferguson, of Port Maria, reports
the destruction caused by rats on his eN-
tensive cocoanut walks as Immense
and the subject has necessarily occupied
his attention for some time; while nu-
merous other correspondents speak in
similar terms.
The question OF protecting coCOanVf
trees from the attacks Of rats ! there
fore matter OF considerable importance,
and with the view OF contributing some
thing towards this end. have lately been
in communication with cocoanut plan
ters in different parts Of the island. and
from the replies received / select one OF
two, which, as the result Ol actual eXpe-
rience. will no doubt commend them
selves to careful consideration This
first of these supplies is from Mr. Joseph
Shearer, Vale Royal, Duncans P. O., and
is as follows:
II rot out in 1882, 1900 sheets galvan-
ized iron 36xl2, they stood me with cost
and charges e3o 24s.. and ] goo tin
sheets 36X12 the cost oil which Was SIS
TO- Although dearer AT Hrst fife zfnc.
are preferable, as near the sea, the tin
sheets soon become rusted. The rats
were so bad in the cocoanut walks
where fused these sheets that reckOned
they paid their cost fully the first year.
In putting them on, l nailed them fiat
to the trees with two or three sheathlng
nails in each If the cocoanut trees are
very close together rat can 20 from one
10 the other across the limbs and great
care should be observed that there are
no ladders near by. such as dry limb
hanging on the ground, or mangrove
twiS. &c. close by, because If there be
anv such the rat will get up the treee
INDEPENDENTLY Of using the trunk and
tbe zinc or tin sheets would be OF no
use. 1t Is a safe guard ii you cannot
isolate all the trees at least isolate
clumps. as now and again the rats will
find an opportunity OF climbing. Care
must he taken, too, to dislodge the rats
from the tops before putting on the tin
sheets. Tie best thing | have found for
this Is sandwiches OF bread and phos-
phoric paste deposited among the roots
and fr0nds."
Mr.. John Clark, Haughton Court, Lu-
cea. writes. THE zinc sheets to protect
coeoanut trees from rats have been tried
here with GOOD results the rats that
live IL the trees must first OF all be driv-
en- out OF the trees or bepoisoned; the
sheets must then be nailed round the
tree. simply fat against the stem, low
enough in the case OF short trees 50 that
the rats cannot spring from the trunk
below the sheet on 10 limb that may he
hanging down near the trunk which they
have been known to do. Rats have been
seen attempting to pass over the sheets
and falling.
The sheets are zinc = inches by y
inches, and apparently l-52 inch flick,
and cost about sd each in London Tin
sheets last no time, and are not to be
thought Of The nails Tor putting them
On are ordered as I'd galvanized shingIing
nails.
If il would be OF any service to you
4 could send you by water to Kingston
/ a specimen sheet and few nails as sam
pies. Ny experience in ordering things
/ from England that your people are not
in the habit OF getting, is that they very
often send out the wrong thing. They
seem TO ignore ones instructions and
send out what they think you mean.'
Father Woollett, Reading. writes as
follows.
Il have here at Reading used til
sands to prevent rats from climbing 60
| eaanut trees, and with very good effect
but ! regret to say that owing to the
neglect OF repairing damaged bands, th'