Smyrna times., 1928-01-11
PLAN RAT INTENSIVE CONTROL
CAMPAIGN FOR KENT COUNTY
WELL DEMONSTRATE METHODS
OF FIGHTING THE PESTS
Rodents Destroy Thousands of Dollars
Worth Of Products and Little Atten-
ton is Paid to Combating Them


ton is Paid to Combating Them
There is no argument to the fact
that one Of the greatest losses to
property and its contents is caused by
the various kinds Of rodents and es-
peciaIly rats which annually damage
and destroy thousands Of dollars
worth of property and food-stuffs
throughout the country, and in view
of this condition a rat control cam
paign is being planned for Kent coun-
ty under the direction of County
agent Russell E.Wilson, who will con
duct demonstrations on farms to show
how these pests can be exterminated
by the use of a poisonous dust known
as cyanogas, which is injected under
TIE farm buildings by means Of a
sman foot-pump especially designed
for this purpose.
The permanent exclusion of rats in
wolves primarily the proper construc-
ton, repair and upkeep Of buildings
and keeping the premises in a sani-
tary condition, as rats require both
food and shelter for their well-being,
and they cannot exist where either of
these elements is lacking. Rat in
festation Of premises can usually be
traced to some conditions that are
favorable to them, and the removal of
these conditions discourages their
presence, and generally results in a
permanent reduction of rat infesta-
ton. Most modern buildings and
MANY older ones are SO constructed as
to be rat-proof, or could be made 50
at a relatively small cost, as owners
of such buildings as warehouses and
sforages in which produce and other
Supplies are kept, have found that the
precautions necessary for making
their buildings rat-proof may be wise
Il followed even though the expense
may be considerable more.
Although measures for the per-
manent riddance Of rats should be
taken wherever practicable, they us-
ually must Be combined with rat de-
structiOn, and in many instances tht
continual killing Of these pests is the
only practical method Of control
There are numerous materials and
contrivances designed for rat destruc-
tion, but it has been found that the
most efficient means Of killing then
is by the use of poison materials II
the form Of dusts or gases which car
be forced into their burrows and bar
boring places.
Of the many chemicals commonl!
employed for destroying rats in thti
harbors, calcium cyanide dust is o
outstanding usefulness, as this mater
ial is extremely poisonous and in SUI
ficient concentration is destructive t
most animal life. Calcium cyanide j
a compound that rapidly gives off by
drocyanic, Or prussic acid gas whel
acted upon by the moisture in the all
and it has recently come into prom
inence in connection with the contro
Of the various rodents as well as in
sect pests. It may be used to ad
vantage in destroying rats in opel
burrows III fields, along ditch bank
and levees, in city dumps and sani
tary fills. around the exterior Of build
ings, under sidewalks, pavements, an
tight floors, in lumber piles, rubbish
and other accumulations, in corncrib'
and sometimes in hay and stray
stacks. It is particularly suited 70
use On farms and poultry houses an
around city dumps.
On the average farm il is often tn
case that all the buildings are 50 cor
structed as to be entirely rat-proo
and there are usually several Of til
farm buildings which furnish exec
lent places for rats to live and proI
agate. This condition, therefor
makes id necessary that some metho
of control be put into practice where
by there pests can be exterminate
effectively and at the most reasonabl
expense to the owner.
County Agent Wilson plans to COZ
duct several rat control derhonstrs
tions in the county some time With
the next few weeks, and those farm
ers and others who are interested
seeing how these rodents are kille
by the cyanogas treatment are invit
ed To attend these demonstrations, th
announced later.
Although getting rid Of rats
largely an individual problem, rat il
festation has a serious effect upon til
whole community, and an organize
control effort is highly desirable.
person vino allows rats to increase o
his property until they become a mer
ace to the entire neighborhood bt
comes an object Of public concern, an
a city THAT permits its refuse dunn
to serve as a breeding ground fo
hordes III these pests is committing
grave injustice to its population
Campaigns are being conducted res
ulariy in an increasing number {
counties and cities, as people in ger
eral are recognizing the value to tn
community Of an organized warfar