196 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



of rats. He who has large numbers on his premises must 

 recognize the fact that the rats are there because either he or 

 his neighbors feed and protect them. If rats come to you in 

 preference to your neighbor it is because you feed them more 

 and treat them better than he does. 



RAT RIDDANCE. 



There is no royal, easy and immediate road to rat riddance. 

 It requires continuous mental and physical exertion to banish 

 the rat, but it can be done, and a reasonable expenditure to 

 that end is a wise economy. Extermination is too much to 

 hope for, and banishment from large areas cannot be expected 

 without great co-operative effort, but the individual can clear 

 his premises of rats provided the conditions are first made 

 right. The means for ridding premises of rats may be outlined 

 as follows: — 



(1) Rat eviction: (a) destroying rat habitations and harbor- 

 ing places; (b) rat-proofing buildings. 



(2) Rat starvation: (a) disposal of edible garbage and 

 refuse; (6) rat-proofing receptacles for all sorts of edible mate- 

 rials. 



(3) Rat slaughter: (a) traps; (b) poisons, chemical and 

 biological; (c) shooting, clubbing, drowning, etc.; {d) encourag- 

 ing natural enemies — owls, dogs, ferrets, cats, etc. 



(4) Rat driving and harrying. 



(5) Preventing rat multiplication: (a) all the above. 



Not all of these methods are necessary in every case, but all 

 are useful under certain circumstances. Methods of permanent 

 eviction come first, as it is of little use to extirpate rats and 

 then invite others to come in by continuing favorable condi- 

 tions, such as a plentiful, accessible supply of food and numerous 

 excellent breeding places. 



Rat Eviction. 

 Those who deprive rats of nesting places, food and drink will 

 evict them, for this prevents breeding, and rats will not stay 

 long where they cannot eat and drink. 



