552 



Reading-Course for Farmers. 



building or iin:!cr the groun 1 floor, comparatively 

 little trouble will be experienced. If the ground 

 iiocr is made of plank, rats can be entirely pre- 

 vented from working underneath by laying the floor 

 on twelve inches of cinders. If cinders are not 

 available, doubtless twelve inches of crushed stone 

 would answer. Cement floors, however, will entirely 

 prevent them. When dead-air spaces are construc- 

 ted in the walls, the greatest care should be taken 

 to see that there is no possible opening into these 

 spaces nor any place where rats and mice can hi;le 

 v.hile making an opening into the space. The writer 

 very much prefers exposed joists to ceilings between 

 which and the floor above rats and mice may find 

 Pjq 3_ Pi^^ccs of lodgment. Grain bins should never have hollow 



muslin tacked on hdf walls v/here rats or mice can find hiding place. If 

 circle to keep harness • i • i -i^ ^i ^ i-i • ii 



out of the dust. grani bms are budt so that there is open space all 



around them, and partitions are made of single 



boards, rats and mice will never molest them. This remark does not 



apply to corn-cribs, since the ears of corn offer opportunity for hiding 



places. Corn-cribs sliould be built so that d.ogs and cats can have free 



access beneath the floor. 



^ 



Fig. 329. — In the chest on the left rats and mice pass readily 

 from one dra-J)er to the other. In the one on the right this is 

 impossible on account of solid partition between drawers. 



In case it is necessary to have a chest of drawers in any part of the 

 barn, and ])articularly if the chests are to be used for seeds of any sort, 

 the chest should be so constructed that should a rat or mouse gain access 

 to any single drawer, he could not escape to other drawers in the same 

 chest. See Fig. 329. 



