RASTADT RAT. 



817 



supported on slender branching peduncles, which 

 arise from the axils of the superior leaves : they are 

 succeeded by a well known fruit, composed of num- 

 erous rounded succulent grains, and of a delicious 

 flavour. It grows wild in rocky places, throughout 

 the colder parts of the northern hemisphere. Sev- 

 eral varieties are cultivated, differing in the size 

 and colour of the fruit, either red, flesh-coloured, or 

 yellow. One variety bears twice a year. A light 

 soil is best suited to the culture of the raspberry, 

 and an eastern or western exposure, slightly shaded. 

 It is generally propagated by suckers, which the 

 old roots give out in profusion ; and the time of 

 planting continues from November till the middle 

 of March. A distance of three feet in every direc- 

 tion should be left round the stocks, and no more 

 suckers should be suffered to remain than are in- 

 tended to bear the following year, unless young 

 plants are wanted ; and if very large fruit is the 

 object, no suckers should be left. On the other 

 hand, when the strongest suckers are wanted, the 

 fruit-bearing shoots should be cut down. Rasp- 

 berries have a grateful subacid taste, and, unlike 

 most fruits, do not undergo the acetous fermenta- 

 tion in the stomach : their perfume is very delight- 

 ful. They are much used in cookery and confec- 

 tionary, as well as in desserts : with sugar they are 

 made into jam and jelly, and also inio cakes. The 

 juice, mixed with a certain portion of sugar and 

 brandy, constitutes the liquor called raspberry 

 brandy; and it is sometimes manufactured into 

 \vine. In some parts of Europe, a white vinegar 

 is prepared by infusion, which is converted into a 

 sirup, by adding the requisite quantity of sugar. 

 The genus rubus belongs to the natural order rosa- 

 ceae, comprehending the different sorts of black- 

 berries and dewberries, as they are termed. One 

 of them, the flowering raspberry (R. odoratus), is a 

 highly ornamental shrub, distinguished by its very 

 large bright red flowers, and is frequently cultivated 

 in gardens, both in Europe and America. 



RASTADT ; a town with 4200 inhabitants, in 

 the grand-duchy of Baden, on the river Murg, about 

 nine miles from Carlsruhe. The beautiful castle 

 Favourite was, until 1771, the residence of the 

 margraves of Baden-Baden. At the congress of 

 Rastadt, 1713, prince Eugene (for Austria) and 

 marshal Villars (tor France) began the negotiations 

 which put an end to the Bavarian war of succession 

 by the peace of Rastadt, March 6, 1714. The 

 second congress at Rastadt was opened Dec. 9, 

 1797, for the purpose of concluding peace between 

 France and Germany, and was dissolved by the 

 emperor of Germany, April 7, 1799. (See Congress.) 

 The French ministers, Roberjot, Bonnier, and Jean 

 de Bry, set out to return, April 28, 1799, but, 

 about 200 paces from the suburb, were attacked by 

 a. troop of hussars. Roberjot and Bonnier were 

 killed, their papers taken, and their persons plun- 

 dered ; Jean de Bry and the secretary Rosenstiel 

 escaped to Rastadt. The diet at Ratisbon ordered 

 an inquiry into the affair, which it left to the em- 

 peror. This, after being prosecuted for some time 

 with spirit, was at length dropped. It is now gen- 

 erally believed that though the hussars had orders 

 to take the papers from these ministers, the killing 

 was probably caused by their wish to plunder. 



RAT. The common brown ur Norway rat, now 

 so extensively diffused, was introduced into Europe 

 from Asia in the eighteenth century (as late as the 

 year 1750). There are few parts of the world, now 

 visited by navigators, where this animal has not 

 ben introduced ; and the immediate consequence 

 of its introduction has been, that all the native rats 

 have been destroyed, or obliged to withdraw beyond 



the reach of this subtle and implacable enemy. 

 Prior to the year above mentioned, this rat, now so 

 notorious for its ravages, was almost, if not wholly, 

 unknown in Europe. It was conveyed to Britain 

 about the period above mentioned, in the timber- 

 ships from Norway; and hence it has received one 

 of its common names. The brown rat takes up its 

 residence about wharfs, store-houses, cellars, gran- 

 aries, &c., and destroys the common black rat and 

 mouse, or entirely expels them from the vicinities 

 it frequents. To chickens, rabbits, young pigeons, 

 ducks, and various other domestic animals, it is 

 equally destructive, when urged by hunger and 

 opportunity. Eggs are also a very favourite arti 

 cle of food with this species, and are sought with 

 great avidity ; in fact, every thing that is edible 

 falls a prey to their voracity, and can scarcely be 

 secured from their persevering and audacious in- 

 roads. In the country, they take up their abodes 

 according to convenience and the abundance of 

 provisions, infesting especially mills, barns, and 

 out-houses, or residing in holes along the banks of 

 races or other water-courses. The brown rat swims 

 with great facility, and dives with vigour, remain- 

 ing under water for a considerable time, and swim- 

 ming thus to some distance. When attacked, and 

 not allowed an opportunity of escaping, he becomes 

 a dangerous antagonist, leaping at his enemy, and 

 inflicting severe and dangerous wounds with his 

 teeth. The most eager cat becomes immediately 

 intimidated in the presence of one of these rats 

 thus penned up, and is very willing to escape the 

 dangers of an encounter. The brown rat is amaz- 

 ingly prolific, and, but for its numerous enemies, 

 and its own rapacious disposition, would become an 

 intolerable pest. Happily for the world, in addi- 

 tion to man, to the weazel, cat, some species of 

 dog, &c., rats frequently find destructive enemies 

 in each other, both in the adult and young state. 

 The strongest of the species prey upon the weaker, 

 and are the most merciless destroyers of their own 

 kind.* The weazel and the terrier are the most 

 efficient rat-killers, as the first can pursue the 

 enemy to his most secret retreat, and the second 

 derives from his superior strength and activity, a 

 very decided advantage in the contest. The cat, 

 though in general a very useful auxiliary in lessen- 

 ing the number of this species, is very liable both 

 to be foiled and worsted in her attempts. As these 

 rats bring forth from twelve to eighteen at a litter, 

 we have good reason to rejoice that so many ani- 

 mals have an instinctive animosity against so nox- 

 ious a marauder. The cunning of these rats is not 

 less than their impudence ; it is almost impossible 

 to take them in traps, after one or two have been 

 thus caught, as the rest avoid it with scrupulous 

 care, however tempting may be the bait it contains. 

 The surest way to remove them is by poison, which, 

 however, they frequently detect and avoid. The 

 powder of nux vemica, mixed with some wheat 

 flour, or oatmeal, and scented with oil of rhodium, is 

 found very effectual in destroying them. Arsenic 

 is very commonly used in the same way for this 

 purpose ; but the fatal accidents which frequently 

 occur when this poison is kept about the house, in 

 consequence of the label being either removed or 

 changed, and the arsenic administered to mem- 

 bers of the family instead of some other medi- 



* " It is a BiqjfulBr fact in the history of these animals, tliat 

 the skins of such of them as have been devoured in their holes 

 have frequently been found curiously turned inside out, 

 every part being completely inverted to the ends of the toes. 

 How the operation is performed it would be difficult to ns- 

 certain ; but it appears to be effected in some peculiar mode 

 of eating out the contents." Bewick, Hitt. Qf Quadrupid*. 



3 r 



