1922.] 



National Rat Week, 1922. 



76] 



The week commencing on Monday, 6th November, 1922, has 

 been fixed by the Ministry as " Eat Week." A memorandum 

 National Rat containing suggestions as to the action that 



... . - nnn may be taken by them and by the public has 

 Week, 1922. , J . , / n T , J , 1 ... 



been issued to all Local Authorities in 



England responsible for the administration of the Rats and 

 Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and it is hoped that all agricul- 

 turists will co-operate in securing the greatest possible destruc- 

 tion of these vermin at the time when they are returning to their 

 winter quarters. Although an effort of this kind during one 

 week is not sufficient to keep down rats and mice, but is only a 

 feature in the continuous campaign which a number of local 

 authorities are actively carrying on, it should produce good 

 results not onlv bv the destruction of a larere number of rats, but 

 by calling attention to the enormous waste of foodstuffs caused 

 by their depredations, and by reminding the public that it is the 

 duty of all occupiers to destroy rats and mice upon their 

 premises. 



The following are some simple suggestions for rat destruction : 



Prevention being better than cure, begin by rendering rat-proof as far as 

 possible all ricks, barns and granaries. In urban districts see that drains are 

 intact. 



To destroy rats proceed as follows : — 



(i) Provided the Local Authority has appointed an officer under the Act, 

 consult him, and, if he is authorised, entrust the destruction to him. 



(ii) If you prefer to undertake the destruction yourself, consult a local 

 chemist, asking for poisons containing Red Squill or Barium Carbonate. If 

 there is absolutely no danger to domestic animals or human beings, one of the 

 standardised phosphorus preparations is effective. 



(iii) If you wish to make your own bait, the following recipes will be 

 found effective : — 



(a) Barium Carbonate (Commercial) 6 oz. } This will make 1,000 baits 

 Meal ... ... ... ... 16 oz. f of 6 grains each, i.e., 



Dripping ... ... ... 4 oz. f pieces as large as a hazel 



Salt ... ... ... ... ^oz.J nut. 



,t\ t> • n \ i. /n • i\ a ^ Mix with fat to a paste and 



(b) Barium Carbonate (Commercial) 4 oz. / , . • • *\. 



v J r,. n , , /T , v J . f lav out m pieces the size 



Biscuit or Oat Meal ... ... 4 oz. V / u i * ■ i 



, v , £ A . i ~ j f or a hazel nut m places 



Oil or Aniseed ... ... 5 drops V , . £ 1 



r ) where rats frequent. 



per cent. \ Thoroughly mix the in- 



(c) Barium Carbonate (Commercial) 20 | gradients. A bait is one 

 Fine Castor Sugar ... ... 40 > dessert spoonfull wrap- 

 Fine Meal ... ... ... 40 I ped in a twist of tissue 



J paper. 



per cent. 



(d) Squill (Red Powder) 20 ) 



Bread ... ... ... ... 30 (Crumble bread. Mix in- 

 Fat ... ... ... ... 30 ( gredients to paste and 



Syrup ... ... ... ... 20 j apply &S m («) an d 



Aniseed... ... ... G drops 



