434 ANNUAL EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



in the presence of rats and to stimulate definite operative measures 

 for the exclusion and destruction of rats. 



One of the most striking instances of an extended and well- 

 organized antirat campaign was that undertaken during the year in 

 the State of Virginia. Two specialists of the bureau cooperated 

 with the extension service of the Virginia Agricultural College, 

 including the county agents and home-demonstration workers. 

 Other State agencies also joined actively in the undertaking. The 

 governor issued a proclamation on the subject. The Virginia De- 

 partment of Agriculture distributed campaign publicity. The Vir- 

 ginia division of markets put on an advertising campaign and 

 assisted in numerous other ways. The State Board of Education 

 carried the message of rat riddance effectively through the schools. 

 The State Board of Health issued circular letters and other publicity 

 matter. The State Farm Bureau Federation purchased and dis- 

 tributed all poison iised, besides giving out much publicity and 

 aiding the organized effort in many ways. The Virginia Bankers^ 

 Association sent out letters to all laankers within the State urging 

 their cooperation and financial support. The Virginia Parent- 

 Teachers' Association sent a letter to all local parent-teachers' asso- 

 ciations urging their participation. The Cooperative Educational 

 Association sent out circular letters urging cooperation. Other or- 

 ganizations, including the Farmers' Union, the State organization 

 of Rotary Clubs, the Peanut Growers' Association, local chambers 

 of commerce, farm bureaus, women's clubs, farmers' clubs, and 

 many others entered heartily into the campaigns. Banks, farm bu- 

 reaus, county commissioners, merchants, and many other organiza- 

 tions were liberal in financial assistance, and the newspapers of the 

 State responded in a most gratifying and helpful way by giving 

 many columns of space to the campaign propaganda. Valuable 

 support came from the public schools, many of the campaigns being 

 carried out almost exclusively through them. 



Carefully compiled reports from the county agents of 71 counties 

 in which the campaigns were conducted indicate that more than 

 500,000 rats were destroyed, and persons competing for prizes turned 

 in 91,365 rat-tails; 158,198 people participated in the campaigns; 

 44,198 pounds of barium carbonate were distributed; 125,585 pieces 

 of publicity material were circulated ; 126,000 copies of poison direc- 

 tions, 10,000 posters, and 21,900 mimeographed letters and circulars 

 were issued by the Virginia Extension Service; and prizes offered 

 for rattails totaled $2,332 in value. 



The total cost of the Virginia campaign was $7,444. As the aver- 

 age damage done by a rat in the course of a year is estimated at $2, 

 the number of rats reported destroyed would represent a saving of 

 produce and other property of more than a million dollars. 



Important by-products of such campaigns are the interest aroused 

 and definite action taken looking toward improved sanitation in 

 individual homes, on farms, in villages, and in cities. The adoption 

 of ordinances providing for the construction and repair of buildings 

 with a view to the exclusion of rats and the improvement of sewage 

 and garbage disposal frequently follow. The active and effective 

 participation of the people of a community in such a concerted drive 

 also cultivates a sense of community responsibility, a tendency to- 



