The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1919-05-23

pens. special furnace provided will
means for forcing the gas into tn
compartments of vessels or building
is generally employed.
Hydrocyanic-acld gas is effective II
destroying all animal life in buildings
1t has been successfully used to free
elevators and warehouses of rats, mice
and insects. However, tits so danger
GUS to human life that the novice
should not attempt fumigation with it
except under careful instructions. Di
rections for preparing and using the
gas may be found in Farmers Bulletin
No 500.
Carbon monoxld is rather danger
Gus, as It's presence In the hold OF q
vessel or other compartment Is not
manifest to the senses, and fatal &C
cidents have occurred during it's en-
ployment to fumigate vessels.
Chlorin gas has strong bleaching
action upon textile fabrics, and for
this reason cannot be used In many
situations.
Sulphur dioxid also has Il bleaching
effect upon textiles, but less marked
| than that of chlOrin, and ordinarily
IL is not noticeable with the small per-
centage of gas ii is necessary to use.
On the WHOLE. this gas has many adj
vantages as fumigator and disin-
fectant. II is used. also as a fire ex3
tinguisher on board vessels. Speciat
furnaces for generating the gas and
forcing it into the compartments of
ships and buildings are on the mar
ket. and many steamships and docks
are now fitted with the necessary
apparatus.
Rat Viruses.
Several micro-organisns or bacteria,
found originally in diseased rats or
mice, have been exploited for destroy
Ing rats. A number Of these sO-called
rat viruses are on the American mar
ket. The biological survey, the bureau
of animal industry and the United
States public health service have made
careful investigations and practical
tests of these viruses, mostly with neg
alive results. The cultures tested by
the biological survey have not proved
satisfactory.
The chief defects to be overcome be-
fore the cultures can be recommended
for general use are:
1. The virulence is not great enough
to kill sufficiently high percentage of
rats that eat food containing the mi
crO-organismS.
2 The virulence decreases with the
age of the cultures. They deteriorate
in warm weather and IN bright sun
light.
3. The diseases resulting from the
heterogeneous are not contagious
and do not spread by contact Of dis
eased with healthy animals.
4. The comparative cost of cultures
Is too great for general use. Since they
have no advantages over common poi
sons. except that they are usually
harmless to man and other animals,
they should be equally cheap; but
their actual cost Is much greater.
The department of agriculture,
therefore. does not prepare, use, or rec
ommend the use of rat viruses
Enemies Of Rats and Mice.
Among the natural enemies of rats
and mice are the larger hawks and
owls. skunks, foxes. coyotes, weasels,
minks, dogs, cats and ferrets.
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 upon |
them. Animals that on the whole are |
decidedly beneficial since they subsist |
upon harmful insects and rodents, are /
habltually destroyed by some farmers
md sportsmen because they occasion
Ally kill a chicken or a game bird.
The value Of carnlvorOus mammals
and the larger birds Of prey in de-
stroying rats and mice should be more
FULLY recognized. especially by the
farmer and the game preserver. Rats
destroy more poultry and
game, both eggs and young chicks.
han all the birds and wild mammals
combined; yet some of their enemies
amongst our most useful birds Of prey
ind carnivOrOus mammals are perse-
.uted almost to the point Of extinction
In enlightened public sentiment should
epeaI all bOunties on these animals
nc afford protection TO the majority