SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF RATS 429 



rat in North America, is at times not only a veritable pest, but, 

 on account of its harboring fleas and of its migratory habits, is a 

 serious menace to health, as it spreads infectious diseases. 



Extermination of Rats. 1. Scatter freshly slaked lime in rat 

 holes and along rat runways. 



2. Shoot an English sparrow and put it under a board in a 

 place frequented by rats. If it is eaten, do the same thing a second 

 time; then put strychnine, with a small knife, in the heart muscles 

 of a third sparrow and put this in the same place. 



3. Throw common green copperas about rat holes and along 

 the runways. 



4. Dust dry calomel on beef scraps and leave these where rats 

 are common. Chickens and cats should be kept away from such 

 poisoned scraps. 



5. Dust dry concentrated lye on molasses in a shallow tin 

 pan and leave this where rats run. Care should be taken to keep 

 this, also, from other animals. 



6. Feed the rats several days with a mixture of three parts 

 flour and one part sugar. Then change to three parts flour, one 

 part plaster of Paris, and one part, sugar. 



7. Mix bran, flour, sugar, white arsenic, and baking powder. 

 Bake until crisp, and crumble near their holes. . 



8. It is said that the presence of carbolineum a wood pre- 

 servative containing zinc chloride will drive away rats. 



9. A poison paste may be made by mixing one part of barium 

 carbonate (barytes), ground fine, and four parts cornmeal and 

 adding sweet oil. 



10. Mix four ounces of calomel (poison) with one quart or 

 two pounds of any food which tempts rats or mice. Always 

 season with sugar. Place where rats and mice run. It is well 

 to cover it, leaving an aperture large enough for rats. Keep 

 water out of their reach. 



11. There are various good traps, and pieces of young rats 

 make good bait. 



General Suggestions for the Control of Rats. Make the 

 foundations of all farm buildings rat-proof. This naturally includes 

 the screening of all basement windows. 



Corn-cribs may be screened entirely with half-inch-mesh, 

 galvanized netting. This will keep out sparrows as well as rats 

 and mice. 



Garbage should be kept in closed receptacles until carried 



