The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-10-11

States, the losses from Its depreOa-
tons amounting to many millions OF
han the losses from all Otner inJurl-
Gus mammals combined.
Several species of rats are known
as house rats, but the brown rat is
the commonest and most widespread
in this Not one of these
species is a native, but all were i'm
ported from the Old World.
The brown rat is practically omnl-
vorous, feeding upon all kinds OF ami
NAL and vegetable matter. 1t MAKES
its home in the open field, ne hedge
row, and the river bank, as well as IN
stone walls, piers, and al OF
buildings. It destroys grains when
newly planted, while growing, and In
the shock, stack, NOW, crib,
mill, elevator OF ships hold and also
in the bin and feed trough. 1t IN
vades store and warehouse, ana de
stroys furs, laces, silks, carpets
leather goods, and groceries. 1t at
tacks fruits, vegetables and meats IN
the markets, and destroys by pollution
ten times as much as 1t actually eats.
1t carries disease germs from house TO
house and bubonic plague from city
to city. It causes disastrous conf1ag-
rations. floods houses by gnawing
lead water-pipes; ruins artificial
ponds and entertainments by burroW-
ing, destroying eggs and young poul-
try; eats the eggs and young or song
birds and game birds. and DAMAGES
foundations, floors, doors and furnish
ingS OF dwellings.
Rats have developed SO much in
telligence and such extraordinary eau
ton that attempts to externinate
them have rarely succeeded. The
failures have been due not SO much
to lack OF effective methods as to
the neglect Of certain ana
the absence of concerted action
First in Importance. as a measure
of rat repression, is the exclusion or
the animals from places where they
find food and safe retreats for rearing
their young.
The best way to keep rats from
buildings, whether in city, or IN coun-
try, is by the use of cement construc-
ton. AS the advantages of this ma
terial are coming to be generally un-
derstood. it's use Is rapidly extending
to all kinds of buildings. Dwellings,
dairies, barns, stables. chicken houses.
ice houses, bridges, dams, Silos, tanks,
cisterns, root cellars, hotbeds, side
walks and curbs are now often made
wholly Of cement
corncribs and poultry
houses may be made rat-proof by a
liberal use Of concrete in the founda-
tons and floors; or the floors may be
Of wood resting upon the concrete
Objection has been urged against con-
crete floors for horses, cattle and
poultry, because the material Is too
good 8 conductOr OF heat, and the
health OF the animals suffers from
contact with these floors. In poultry
houses, dry soil or sand may be used
as a covering for the cement moor;
and in stables, a wooden floor rest
ing on the concrete is just as salts
factory so far as the exclusion Of rats
is concerned.
Probably the greatest factor In the
increase Of rats, mice and other de-
structive rodents in the United states
has been the persistent killing Off OF
the birds and mammals that prey up
on them. Animals that on the whole
are decidedly beneficial, since they
subsist upon harmful insects and rod
ents, are h~abitually destroyed by s7mc
farmers and sportsmen they
occasionally kill a chicken or a game
bird.
h values OF ca%rniverous mammals
and the larger birds OF prey in de-
stroying rats should be more fully
recognized, especially by the farmer
and the game prcserver. Rats &C
tually destroy more poultry and game
both eggs and young CHICKS, than al
the birds and wild mammals comb1n-
ed; yet some OF our most useful Dirds
OF prey ana carnlVerOuS m2n1lhdiS afs
prosecuted almost to the point OF ex-
tinction. An enlightened public sen
timent should the repeal of al
bounties on these animas and ahor6
protection to the majority OF them.
Owing to their cunning it is no
easy to clear premises Of rats by trap
ping; if food is abundant it is i'm
possible. And yet trapping, II per
sistently followed, is one OF the mos
effective ways of destroying rats.
"Gui1lotine'' traps have marked 81
vantages over the old style trap: ant
many Of them can be used at the SAM
time. The more simply they are con
structed the better. Probably thos'
mad entirely of metal are the best
as they are more durable and are les
likely to absorb and retain odors
Guiilotine traps should be baited wit
small pieces Of Vienna sausage frie'
bacon, or a small section of an ca
of corn.
VI "a ~ A@,A -