PROJECTS 637 



preventive measures for communities and farms, and directions 

 for community campaigns. 



"The House Fly," L. 0. Howard. Frederick A. Stokes Co., New 

 York. 



" The Reduction of Domestic Flies," Edward H. Ross. J. B. Lip- 

 pincott Co., Philadelphia. 



PROJECT LVI. How to Make War on the Rat, page 454 

 (Community Project) 



Among all mammals, the rat is the worst pest known to man. 

 Individual war against rats on one's own premises is more effective 

 than individual war against flies, but only united effort in com- 

 munities can achieve permanent results. The loss of approximately 

 150 millions of dollars a year from the depredations of rats, aside 

 from the menace of disease they offer, is too great a tax for the 

 United States to tolerate indefinitely. 



The first thing to do on one's premises is to see that, by means 

 of steel, concrete, and wire netting, all construction is made rat- 

 proof. This applies not only to homes, but also to barns, granaries, 

 poultry-houses, drains, sewers, etc. The saving will more than pay 

 for the extra cost of construction. 



Keep all garbage cans tightly covered, and leave no scraps of 

 food of any sort exposed on your premises as a lure to rats and mice. 



Trapping is the safest method of dealing with rats that have 

 gained access to buildings, such as homes, stables, warehouses, 

 mills, factories, etc. The baited spring trap may occasionally 

 catch inexperienced young rats, but it seldom fools the wise old 

 ones. Rats are very wary, and they seem to recognize bait by its 

 position as well as by the odor of human hands. Of all traps for 

 the catching of rats, none is so satisfactory as the smallest "New- 

 house" game trap. Place unusual food grain if the rats have 

 been feeding on meat ; meat if they have been feeding on grain 

 where they can have easy access to it, and allow them to feed freely 

 on it for several days. Then set the spring traps in these places, 

 with the trigger very lightly caught. 



