180 
THE RAT. 
Moreover, the land necessary to grow the corn, say good 
land, yielding a fair average crop, namely, eight combs, or 
four quarters, to the acre, would amount to 2,281^ acres^, 
which would employ eleven farmers — ten at 200 acres each, 
and the eleventh at 281^ ; and all this to keep the rats 
that are destroyed in London in one year in dog- training and 
rat-pitting. 
We have not reckoned what the grain would cost. Sup- 
pose we calculate as before, oats, barley, and wheat together, 
and set it down at 505. per quarter. Then we shall find, 
that to give these rats a wine-glass of grain each daily, it 
would cost £22,812 lOs. for the year. 
But bear in mind that all this is without any consideration 
of the young produced during the same period. Therefore, 
if we calculate them as before, namely, one-half females, to 
have five litters in the year, beginning and ending with a 
litter, and eight young ones at a birth, and the young to 
breed at six months old, then what would be the amount of 
living rats to be supported out of the farmer's corn and the 
poor man's loaf in the outskirts of London !■ No less a 
number than 9,000,000, which, at ten rats per man, would 
eat, day by day, the year round, as much food as would 
supply 900,000 people for the same time. That is nearly 
one-third the population of London and its suburbs, or nine 
times the number of the British army, if we estimate it at 
100,000 strong. 
Then, if we reckon them according to the wine-glass 
standard, what would be the amount of grain necessary to 
feed them for one day? Why, 18,000 bushels, or 821,250 
quarters per year, which, if made into bread, would supply 
576,000 human beings with a two-pound loaf each daily for 
the same period. The ground necessary to grow the grain, 
at eight combs, or four quarters, to the acre, would be 
205,312^ acres ; and this would employ 410 farmers at 500 
acres each, and 31 2 J for another. And what amount of 
money would it take to purchase this mixed grain, at 
505. per quarter? ISTo less a sum than £2,053,125 — all of 
which has been most happily and most effectually saved 
through the destruction of the parents in the rat- pits, &c., 
of London. 
The matter now for consideration is, as to whether 
