STANDARD RECEIPTS. 489 



melting them. This mixture will retain its efficacy for many years, for 

 the phosphorus is preserved by the butter and only becomes oxydized 

 on the surface. Rats and mice eat this mixture with avidity, after 

 which they swell out and soon die. 



6. Cover the floor near their holes, with a thin layer of moist caustic 

 potash. When the rats walk on this it makes their feet sore. These 

 they lick with their tongues, which makes their mouths sore, and the 

 result is that they not only shun this locality, but appear to tell all the 

 neighboring rats about it, and eventually the house is entirely abandoned 

 by them, notwithstanding that the neighborhood may be teeming with 

 them. 



7. Corks, cut as thin as wafers, roasted or stewed in grease, and 

 placed in their tracks ; or dried sponge in small pieces, fried or dipped 

 in honey, with a little oil of rhodium, or bird-lime, laid in their haunts, 

 will stick to their fur and cause their departure. If a live rat be caught, 

 and well rubbed over with tar, and oil, and afterward let escape in the 

 holes of others, they will disappear. 



8. Cover a common barrel with stiff, stout papers, tying the edge 

 around the barrel ; place a board so that the rats may have an easy 

 access to the top ; sprinkle cheese parings or other "feed" for the rats 

 on the paper for several days, until they begin to believe they have a 

 right to the food. Then place a cover balanced near the centre and the 

 rat will fall into the barrel. Have water in the bottom which covers a 

 stone all but place enough for one rat. Then the second rat gets in the 

 barrel, there will be a fight for a place on the stone, and this noise will 

 call other rats to the barrel. Each time a rat gets on the head it will 

 add one rat to the number inside. 



Mice. These are disposed of in about the same manner as rats. 

 Gather spearmint, peppermint, or any other kind of mint, and scatter it 

 about their holes, and they will forsake the premises. 



PRESERVING AND SALTING MEAT. 



To Cure Hams. For each twelve pounds of ham use the following: 

 2 pounds Common Bait, 

 2 ounces Saltpetre, 

 A pound Bay Salt, 

 I pound Brown Sugar. 



Reduce the solids to the finest powder. Rub the hams well with it. 



