MISCELLANEOUS. 47 



PERCUSSION POWDER, 



A powder inflammable bv percussion has been used for some 

 years past, especially in fowling-pieces. The following formulae 

 have been given for the preparation of this powder, the principal 

 ingredient of which is chlorate of potash. 



1 .) 1 00 parts of chlorate of potash, (fulminating salt,) 1 2 parts of 

 sulphur, and 10 parts of charcoal, are closely mixed. The grains 

 are prodiic(>d by forcing the soft paste through a sieve. 



2.) 100 parts of chlorate of potash, 42 parts of saltpetre, 36 

 parts of sulphur, and 14 parts of lycopodium. 



[Schweigger^s Journal, Band xi. p. 66. 



RAT CATCHING. 



For premises infested with Rats, prepare from six to ten wooden 

 traps, such as are commonly used for taking muskrats and rabbits 

 in the country, place them where the rats run most frequently. 

 Get a phial of oil of caraway, do. of oil of annisecd, and a very 

 small quantity of the oil of rhodium — the latter is costly, and but 

 little of it needed. Perfume the sides and top of the boxes with 

 the caraway and anniseed, and with the end of your finger touched 

 to the rhodium make a few dots on the bottom. Take stale bread 

 and grate it, mix it up with some drops of the caraway, evenly, 

 and place a single handful of it on the middle of the lower box- 

 board, under the place where the pan or trap-platform is to be set 

 — keep the boxes thus baited, fastened open for two nights — the 

 two succeeding nights set the traps so they will not spring, and put 

 the like baits on the pans. On the fifth night set the traps thus 

 baited, prepared for springing. Sit with a dark lantern in the 

 room or place where your traps are, and as soon as you hear a lid 

 fall, take up the trap, cover its mouth with a bag, and empty the 

 rat or rats into it — kill them by dashing the bag against a post or 

 the floor ; re-set the trap and continue until the " custom" ceases 

 — Be careful not to suffer a rat that has been caught, to escape ; 

 if you do, you will get no more that night. By this process 300 

 rats were caught in Londo i, in one house, and in one night, by 

 two persons, during the revolutionary war. This is the old secret 

 of the London and Liverpool rat-catchers, and is published for the 

 benefit of those who prefer a little trouble, to a great annoyance. 



\Am. Farmer, 



QUERY. 



Mr. Editor, — I have frequently heard, that a dye, similar to 

 that used in dyeing English Flannel, yellow, may be obtained from 

 onion skins. If any of your readers will send you the mode of 

 preparing the dye from the onions and how it should be used, they 

 will much oblige A. Housekeeper. 



