359 Ground Vermin. 



the buildings which it is intended to work in, and place the 

 traps where the rats mostly commit their depredations. 



In about two or three days the vermin will have become 

 sufficiently acquainted with the traps introduced in every 

 direction, and one will be able to notice that they run 

 indiscriminately over the now harmless gins, which can 

 forthwith be set to catch them. I do not advise the 

 employment of baits when using gins, except under certain 

 conditions, but rather the traps should be set in any 

 runs or places where the vermin make their paths from one 

 part of the building to another. If there be any place 

 where a stray wisp of straw or hay has remained, a trap 

 may be set under it, the straw being put as little as pos- 

 sible inside the jaws, and, if using any in covering these, 

 at right angles to the spring, so that when the trap is 

 sprung the straw is raised upon the rising jaws, and does 

 not get between them. The same remarks hold good in 

 the case of hay. The most likely places are upon the tops 

 of walls, in hay-lofts, on the rafters of granaries and all 

 about the corn, behind any barrels standing near the 

 granary walls, and in all such similar spots. One proviso, 

 however, is, not to place them where fingers of other 

 persons, fowls' legs, or what not, are likely to intrude; 

 and if one conceal the gin either under corn, hay, or in 

 other places, let people be warned of the fact. 



The trapping of rats along hedgerows and banks is 

 similar to catching rabbits, only on a smaller scale; the 

 runs must be determined upon, and the traps tilled 

 adjacent to the holes, staked and covered in the orthodox 

 manner, but in numbers sufficient to provide every hole 

 with a wile at its entrance. Rats established in corn-ricks 

 are not easily trapped, but only those ricks not mounted on 

 staddles need suffer, as the removal of any possible means 

 by which the rats can regain the rick, once having left it 



