XII 



METHODS OF CIRCUMVENTING VERMIN 



Protecting One's Enthusiasms — A Poultryman's "In- 

 spiration " — Roving Vermin — Rats — Items to be 

 Noted — Before — Or After ? — Man's Age-old En- 

 emy — Rat Harbors Mean War on the Chicken Yard — 

 Government Bulletin on Rats — A Plague of Mice — 

 Mice and the Poultry Keeper 



In the winter of 1910-1911 I wrote to an egg customer 

 of the previous season, who had bought 24 eggs for hatch- 

 ing, to see if I could buy any of his ducks from these 

 eggs. His reply was, "None to spare; owls, rats, 

 polecats, and minks left me but three." I knew, too, 

 one family of Beginners in poultry raising who spent 

 nearly two years in repeated efforts to make the poultry 

 houses on their newly bought place rat-proof. A woman 

 poultry raiser wrote me the details of a fierce fight 

 against mites " in piles," which had gained a hold before 

 being discovered. She reported a victory in sight at 

 last, but added, " I shall never again have the same 

 enthusiasm for poultry raising." 



Enthusiasm is a compelling factor in any business 

 that is to be successful. Therefore, it is the part of 

 wisdom to protect one's enthusiasms from needless 

 chilling. The most abject failures follow the loss of 

 that kindling enthusiasm which leads to good work. 

 Thus, it is only good sense to guard against anything 

 that may lessen enthusiasm, even though your practical 

 man will sneer at enthusiasms as illusory. 



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