Milford chronicle., 1928-01-06
PLAN RAT CONTROL
CAMPAIGN FOR KENT
[Continned fr0m 40 paqel


involves primarily the proper con-
struction, repair and upkeep OF
buildings and keeping the premises
in a sanitary condition, as rats re-
uuire both food and shelter for their
well-being, and they cannot exist
where either of these elements is
lacking. Rat infestation of prem
ises can usually be traced to some
conditions that are favorable to
them, and the removal of these con-
ditions discourages their presence,
and generally results in a perman-
ent reduction of rat infestatlOn.
Most modern buildings and many
older ones are so constructed as to
be rat-proof, or could be made so
at a relatively small cost, as owners
of such buildings as warehouses
and stOrages in which produce and
other supplies are kept, have found |
that the precautions necessary for
making their buildings rat-proof |
may be wisely followed even though
the expense may be considerable
more.
Although measures for the per-
manent radiance of rats should be
taken wherever practicable, they
usually must be combined with rat
destruction, and in many instances
the continual killing of these pests
is the only practical method of con-
troll. There are numerous materials
and contrivances designed for rat
destruction, but it has been found
that the most efficient means of kill
ing them is by the use of poison ma
terials in the form of dusts or gases
which can be forced into their bur-
rows and harboring places.
Of the many chemicals commonly
employed for destroying rats in
their harbors, calcium cyanide dust
is of outstanding usefulness, as this .
material is extremely poisonous and q
in sufficient concentration is de-
structive to most animal life. Cal {
cium cyanide is a compound that r
rapidly gives off hydrocyanic, or !
prussic acid gas when acted upon by :
the moisture in the air, and it has +
connection with the control of the +
various rodents as well as insect Z
pests. 1t may be used to advantage 7
in destroying rats in open burrows 6
in fields, along ditch banks and le- =
wees, in city dumps and sanitary =
fills, around the exterior of build
ngs, under sidewalks, pavements, r
and tight floors, in lumber piles, T
and other accumulations, 2
n corncribs, and sometimes in hay 6
Ind straw stacks. 1t is particularly y
suited for use on farms and poultry q
houses and around city dumps. I
On the average farm it is often n
he case that all the buildings are so n
as to be entirely rat ri
roof, and there are usually several g,
# the farm buildings which fur Fl
fish excellent places for rats to live r
nd propagate. This condition, N
therefore,, makes it necessary that m
ONE method of control be put into
ractice whereby these pests can be Al
effectively and at the ~
lost reasonable expense to the
wner.
County Agent Wilson plans to
Onduct several rat control demon
trations in the county some time or
-ithin the next few weeks, and ~,
lose farmers and others who are o.
lterested in seeing how these rod oh
ats are killed by the cyanogas co
eatment are invited to attend these
demonstrations, the date and loca- IN
on of which will be announced on
ter. fe,
Although getting rid of rats is co,
rgely an individual problem, rat re,
festation has a serious effect upon
e whole community, and an or sn,
.nized control effort is highly de- If
rable A person who allows rats eff
increase on his property until ba,
ey become a menace to the entire for
ighborhood becomes an object of bei
bile concern, and a city that per- c
is its refuse dump to serve as a fro
eeding ground for hordes Of these car
SITS is committing a grave injus- tioI
e to its population. Campaigns Ev,
, being conducted regularly in an I
,reasing number of counties and mis-
les, as people in general are re- cril
gnizing the value to the commun- div
of an organized warfare on rats tina
1 are taking an active interest in or
inning and promoting anti-rat
npaigns along with other move F
nts to exterminate pests and que
ease. fonI