HOW TO EXTIRPATE VERMIN. 
205 
in readiness, put in the ferrets, and then stand still till the 
rats bolt out ; but do not attempt to kill them, unless they are 
crawling up the sides ; in that case, quietly cut them down. 
An ash stick, about the thickness of your little finger, is the 
best weapon. As for the rest, they will run into the box- 
traps. There you will have them all alive, and can dispose 
of them as you please. A youth, in this way, may clear a 
barn in an hour or two. But when all is over, and the 
ferrets safe, just put a few phosphoric balls down the holes, 
in case there may be a straggler or two ; and that will send 
them to the nearest water, where they will drink till they 
die, and there will be an end of them. 
The barn being clear, take the traps and ferrets to the 
granary, and treat it the same. But in either case, should 
there be but a few rats, it will not be worth the trouble ot 
clearing out the corn. In that case feed them for a few 
nights with scraps of cheese and bread ; but be sure to put 
down some low dishes, and fill them to the brim with clean 
water for them to drink. Do everything gently and kindly. 
By doing this for four or five days, so that they may know 
where to run to for water, they will eat the food freely ; then 
put down some phosphoric balls, or phosphoric paste, spread on 
bread; this renders them so thirsty, that they instantly run 
to the water, where the more they drink the worse they are, 
and in most cases die beside it. This is worth all the other 
poisons put together for destroying them in buildings, 
because it is less dangerous, and more effectual ; since you 
can throw out their carcasses, and thereby do away with 
their stinking about the premises. But whatever you do, 
let them have plenty of water ; if not, they may crawl back 
to their holes, and there die. These balls are excellent 
things for the hen-house ; but be sure you put them far 
enough down the holes, so that the fowls cannot pick them 
out, and that will preserve your eggs and poultry. 
As for the cow-house and stables, treat them the same as 
the hen-house. 
The next consideration is, how to clear dwelling-houses, 
drains, &c. — In any apartment, where, by shutting the doors, 
you can cut off" every means of escape for rats, except down 
their holes, the ferrets are not actually necessary. The traps 
alone are sufficient, because rats cannot or will not go forty- 
