SI 2 FARMERS ASSISTANT. 



A trap, that is much recommended, for catching Rats, is 

 made as follows : Take a barrel, -or keg, with one head outs 

 put in it water enough to cover the bottom about two inches 

 deep; in the middle of this set a piece of brick or stOLS; 

 cover the head of the cask with a piece of smooth parch- 

 ment; or, perhaps, smooth stiff paper willanswer; in the 

 centre of this cut two slits about six inches long, at right 

 angles, so as to form a cross ; immediately over this suspend 

 the best kind of bait for Rats, placed sufficiently high. 



When the Rat comes to take the bait, in reaching up to 

 it he slips into the hole, by the four corners of the parch- 

 ment or paper giving way. He then gets upon the brick in 

 the middle of the water, and begins to utter cries of dis- 

 tress. This brings others to him, who fall in the same 

 manner. Presently they begin to fight for the possession of 

 the brick, and the noise of this brings others, who fall in 

 like manner ; and thus all within hearing of this scene of 

 confusion follow on and share the same fate. 



Another good method is, by suitable baits to draw them 

 into a large box, or cage, by means of an entrance guarded 

 within with sharp-pointed wires, similar to those of the 

 mousecage. 



While the Farmer is divesting himself of his Rats, let 

 him not neglect his Mice; lor they, too, are quite expensive 

 in keeping. 



RED-TOP. See GRASSES, 



RICE (Oriza Saliva ) This plant may be considered in 

 some degree amphibious ; for, after it has attained some 

 height, the ground growing it may be occasionally flooded 

 with water, till the crop comes to maturity. In this manner 

 it is raised in the Southern States ; the overflowing of the 

 ground being merely for the purpose of saving the labor 

 necessary to be performed in the ploughings and hoeings 

 the crops requires, when not thus irrigated. 



It will, however, grow very well on dry lands, if they are 

 sufficiently rich. It has been successfully raised, by Mr, 

 Boardmani on dry sandv land at Annapolis, in Maryland, as 

 we find stated in the Domestic Encyclopedia, publibned in 

 Philadelphia. 



We mention this fact for two purposes; first, to observe 

 that the crop does not require irrigation; and that although, 

 by this operation, there may be a saving of labor, stiil a 

 very great loss is thereby incured, in regard to health, and 

 of course enjoyment; and, second, that although this plant 

 is a native of the tropics, still it is capable of becoming na- 

 ttjralized to cooler and shorter bummers. 



