-8- 



NOTSS OH RAT COI'JTROL 



Efficiont rcdcnt control mothods aro based en the habits and 

 characteristics of the rodent to be controlled. The results obtained aro 

 usually in proportion to the amount of this kno\f;led{.-o that the operator 

 has of the particular animal and hoiv thorou[]hly ho applies it. 



Questions asked of rodent control agents at farra moctinj-'S can but 

 lead to the belief that a far too large percentages of the people attending 

 these meetings knov; very little of the life habits and characteristics of 

 the i.iost coni-;ion farm rodents. For example, take the most danagiiig of all 

 the rodents, the brorm or Norway rat ^raid ask yourself these questions. If 

 you can ansver them, you should be able to control rats, 



rjhere do rats live and breed? At v;hat a^e does a rat breed? 

 Tijhat is the largest opening aliovrable (round or square) to prevent rats from 

 entering a building? v^Jhat v/ill a rat eat? 7,'hat materials are ratproof? 

 Hoy; high will a rat jump? Hov7 d-^ep 'ivill a rat burrow? 'Till a rat take to 

 the water readily? IIov; far will a rat travel? VJhere do rats prefer to 

 travel? '""/hat does a rat dislike most of all? 



The last question is paramount. The rat dislikes most of all to 

 bo exposed. Thus the elimination of debris, proper storing of merchandise 

 and the correct construction of buildings become of first importance. The 

 farms which go from year to year without a rat or mouse problem are the ones 

 that carry out a strict sanitation program. Doors must be fitted to the 

 proper clearance and v;indows and other opening rat-proofed with the correct 

 material. High grass, vraeds and debris should be, kept away from the ex- 

 terior of buildings, More education on the habits and characteristics of 

 rodents that drjnage farm crops and buildings could v;ell bo included in our 

 agricultural school progrfr-jii, 



Carl B, Henry and Charles C, Scott 



Poultry Manure as an Orchard Fertilizer. Just because an occasional 



grower has used too much poultry manure in a bearing orchard does 

 not mean that this i.-.atcrial is completely ruled out as an orchard 

 fertilizer. Applied sparingly and broadcast over the area between 

 the trees, poultry manure works like magic in peppint; up a scanty 

 cover crop, V,hcro the trees aro impoverished a little more may be 

 applied as a m.eans of encouraging the development of greener leaves 

 which, in turn, v.dll result in apples of slightly larger size, and 

 more of them. The secret in getting ideal color of fruit, early 

 maturity, and the finish which the market demands, is to place a 

 definite liiTiit on the amount used, far below the overdose which 

 experience shows will result in a "henyard" tj-pe of apple. This 

 apple is inclined to bo la.to maturing, more spongy/ in texture, of 

 much poorer color and, in general, unattractive. 



