156 
THE RAT« 
in proper order, and then in the course of one day he killed 
no less than 385 rats, for which he received only a jDenny a 
head. 
As a gentleman was superintending the removal of a " 
rick of beans, he found that a large number of migratory 
rats had taken up their temporary abode therein. He 
immediately had that portion of the rick -barton completely 
surrounded with boards, except a small hole for them to get 
out at j and so well was his plan laid, that he and his dog 
succeeded in destroying upwards of 700. The dead carcasses 
of the vermin filled four large wheelbarrows. 
Not long ago, about 1,490 of these destructive pests of 
the farmers were killed in some very old standing wheat- 
ricks. The quantity of grain destroyed by these vermin 
must have been very great, as they had long held undisputed 
possession of their comfortable quarters. At this time corn 
was fetching from 755. to S5s. per quarter. 
Some time ago I was told that a farmer, had six 
large corn-ricks standing in a field close to his house. 
They had been standing a long time. However, there 
being a considerable rise in the market at the time 
of which he spoke, he gave orders for the ricks to be 
taken down and thrashed ; but the instant they set to work, 
two of them fell to the ground, being complete shells, and 
not a grain of corn in them ; and the hearts of the rest were 
so completely eaten away, that it was currently reported in 
the neighbourhood that the whole six ricks did not yield 
anything near the quantity of grain that ought to have been 
produced from one. 
I once knew a man who lived in 1835 with a gentleman 
who had been a military officer, but who had left the army 
and turned farmer. In the same year a gentleman and near 
neighbour sold his hounds, and went to Italy, and, as a 
matter of course, left but few servants to look after the 
house, (fee. His gardener was to have the produce of the 
garden for his salary till his master returned. It was the 
spring of the year, and my friend being an amateur gardener, 
they were growing peas and beans against each other for 
tankards of ale, and used to visit one another's garden, to 
watch the growth of the crops. 
When my friend called one morning, he found the poor 
