8 



now ro nKSTROY HATS. 



has been urged against concrete floors for horses, cattle, and poultry, 

 because the material is too good a conductor of heat, and the health 

 of the animals suffers from contact with these floors. In poultry 

 houses, dry soil or sand may be used as a covering for the cement 

 floor; and in stables, a wooden floor resting on the concrete is just as 

 satisfactory so far as the exclusion of rats is concerned. 



The common practice of setting corncribs on posts with inverted 

 pans at the top often fails to exclude rats, because the posts are not 

 high enough to place the low^er cracks of the structure beyond reach 

 of the animals. The posts should project at least 3 feet above the 

 surface of the ground, for rats are excellent jumpers. But a crib 

 built in this manner, though cheap, is imsightly. 



For a rat-proof crib, a well-drained site should be chosen. The 

 outer walls, laid in cement, should be sunk about 20 inches into the 

 ground. The space Avithin the walls should be thoroughly grouted 

 with cement and broken stone and finished with rich concrete for a 

 floor. Upon this the structure may be built. Even the walls of the 

 crib may be concrete. Corn will not mold in contact with them, pro- 

 vided there is good ventilation and the roof is water-tight. 



However, there are cheaper ways of excluding rats from either new 

 or old corncribs. Rats, mice, and sparrows may be effectually kept 

 out by the use of either an inner or an outer covering of galvanized- 

 wire netting of half-inch mesh and heavy enough to resist the teeth of 

 rats. The netting in common use for screening cellar windows is 

 suitable for covering cribs. As rats can climb the netting, the entire 

 structure must be screened. 



KEEPING FOOD FROM RATS. 



The effect of an abundance of food on the breeding of rodents 

 should be kept in mind. Well-fed rats mature quickly, breed often, 

 and have large litters. Poorly fed rats, on the contrary, reproduce 

 less frequently and have smaller litters. In addition, scarcity of food 

 makes measures for destroying the animals far more effective. 



The general rat-proofing of buildings is the most important step 

 in limiting the food supply of rats. But since much of the animals' 

 food consists of garbage and other waste materials, it is not enough 

 to bar rats from markets, granaries, warehouses, and private food 

 stores. Garbage and offal of all kinds must be so disposed of that 

 rats can not obtain them. 



In cities and towns an efficient system of garbage collection and 

 disposal should be established by ordinances. Waste from markets, 

 hotels, cafes, and households should be collected in covered metallic 

 receptacles and frequently emptied. Garbage should never be dumped 

 in or near towns, but should be utilized or promptly destroyed by fire. 



369 



