MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &©. 



281 



bridge, leaving the paper or rag in the trap. Of whatever 

 Imid the trap is, it fhould be fcented : once in a twelvemonth 

 will be fufficient. Then throw fome chaff, mixed with a 

 little wheat, about the bottom of the trap, in order to deceive 

 the rats ; for they are very fagacious, and will not enter a 

 fufpicious place. This will be necellary to be done only 

 at the firft time of fetting the traps ; for after fome rats have 

 been caught and have watered and dunged in them, rats will 

 enter boldly when they find others have been there before 

 them : do not, therefore, walfi or clean out the trap, as fome 

 people do before they fet it again ; but let the dung and urine 

 remain in it. Keep the places where the traps are fet as pri- 

 vate as poffible ; and when you fet them for catching, mix 

 no bread with the bait, as the rats will in that cafe be apt to 

 carry it away. 



When you find the holes quiet, and that no rats ufe them, 

 flop them up with the following compofition. Take a pint 

 of common tar, half an ounce of pearl-allies, an ounce of oil 

 of vitriol, and a good handful of common fait, mix them ail 

 well together, in an old pan or pot. Take fome pieces of 

 paper, and lay fome of the above mixture very thick on them, 

 then ftop the holes well up with them, and build up the 

 mouth of the holes with brick, or ftone, and mortar : if this 

 be properly done, rats will no more approach thefe, while 

 either fmell or tafte remains in the compofition. 



To kill Rats in Places where you cannot fet Traps. 



Take a quart of the bait already defcribed, then rafp into 

 it three nuts of nux vomica, and add a quarter of a pound of 



Q o crumb 



