RAT CATCHING. 
87 
analytical chemistry was a study that could only 
be well pursued by years of laborious application 
— this was apparent from the very nature of the 
science. The analyses were made in such small 
quantities, that the utmost nicety was required, not 
merely of the chemist, but of the instruments which 
he used. Their mechanism must be as nearly per- 
fect as possible, and he must have the skill to use 
them. The balances must be made so as to turn, 
even with the hundredth part of a grain — the most 
apparently trifling constituents of the thing analys- 
ed must be discovered — all these, and many other 
points not specified in any printed formula, must be 
attended to, or the work of analysis will not have 
been well performed. 
He witnessed this, in seeing how difficult it was 
to impart to others the knowledge necessary to en- 
able them to make an analysis ; the labor of a year 
might be bestowed by a student before he would 
trust him to make an analysis of a soil out of his 
eight. Even with many years of experience puz- 
zling questions constantly present themselves. 
As some misconception might have arisen from 
his mention of the time necessary to make a good 
chemist, Professor N. wished to observe in few 
words, that while he wished to banish the idea that 
every farmer could do his own analysis, he consid- 
ered that all farmers might, in a short time, become 
familiar with the great principles of chemistry as 
applied to agriculture. By means of lectures given 
in such a school, and by simple experiments shown 
there, he might learn what were the substances 
which composed his soil, his plants, his animals, 
his manures, &c. This knowledge would be of an 
eminently useful and practical character, would ena- 
ble him to direct his efforts at improvement with 
far greater certainty than ever before, and also to 
draw much more light from the writings and experi- 
ments of scientific men. 
There is this objection to the establishment of 
many small local schools, that it leads to a contra- 
riety of results, and consequently the promulgation 
of just so many diverse theories — since from inade- 
quate means, and ill-instructed teachers, the experi- 
ment would, in many cases, be inadequately and 
imperfectly made. The completeness of the results 
in a perfected and central state institution, would 
prevent error — they would prove themselves. Then 
smaller schools would spring up under its auspices 
and be guided by its light. 
The first and leading idea of this central school 
should be, what is the general economy of agricul- 
ture, what system will best develope the resources 
of every department of farming. Its constant en- 
deavor should be to devise a system that by its com- 
bined results would show in which way the greatest 
good to the land, the greatest profits out of it could 
be attained. Every department ought to exhibit 
what might be called "a model" of its kind. The 
farm should embrace a great variety of land, so that 
every mode of managing the crops might be il- 
lustrated — the buildings, implements, and stock 
should be the best adapted for the purposes de- 
signed. 
The experimental department, Professor Norton 
said, should be arranged under these heads ; — 
First, a Chemical Department, devoted to such in- 
vestigations and researches in chemistry as would 
lead to valuable practical results. 
Second, a Veterinary Department, where the dis- 
eases of animals can find proper treatment, and 
where the qualities of various breeds could be as- 
certained. 
The third Department — a portion of the farm, on 
which to test the various questions discussed in the 
school and elsewhere, by cultivation. 
He thought it perhaps doubtful, whether all would 
agree in assigning to chemistry so prominent a place. 
He paid a passing, but earnest compliment to Pro- 
fessor Johnston, of Scotland, as the principal prac- 
tical chemist of the day. The results of the labo- 
ratory published to the world — the details of the 
experiments made, would be of such a character 
that practical men could benefit by them. These 
suggestions would not be tested in one year only, 
but by reason of the adequate means used, the facts 
would be established by long experience before pro- 
mulgation. One test would not be considered suf- 
ficient to determine the certainty of a theory, but 
successive results would be required — and nothing 
taken for granted until it was clearly demonstrated. 
Such an institution would find — it must find an 
individual suitable to carry it on — to commence it, 
and to direct it after commenced, to produce the 
most important results. 
♦ 
RAT CATCHING-. 
At p. 182, of the seventh volume of the Agri- 
culturist, also at p. 63, of the present volume, men 
tion is made of enticing and destroying rats by 
means of a preparation containing the oil of anise 
and the oil of rhodium, &c. 
As no definite directions are given for preparing 
and applying the mixture, you would oblige me, and 
probably many others, by inserting the modus ope- 
randi in your next number. 
A Philadelphia Subscriber. 
In reply to the above, we would communicate to 
the public, and more especially to our discriminating 
subscriber, the following recipe, which was pur- 
chased by a friend, as a " secret," from an old rat 
catcher : — 
Take powdered assafcetida, 2 grains ; essential oil of rhodium, 
3 drachms ; essential oil of lavender, 1 scruple ; oil of anise, 1 
drachm. 
Let the assafcetida first be well triturated with the 
oil of anise ; then add the oil of rhodium, continuing 
to rub the material well together with the pestle in 
the mortar, after which add the oil of lavender, and 
cork up the mixture in a close bottle until required 
for use. 
The method of applying the compound, consists 
merely in smearing a tame rat with it, after mixing 
a few drops of it with a little flour or starch, or 
employing the paste thus formed as a bait for the 
trap. It is stated, that a tame white rat besmeared 
with it, let loose in a vault, has been known to be 
followed by half a dozen other rats, which appear- 
ed to be enamoredffcby their albino decoy. A trap 
placed in a cellar, naunted by rats, and left there all 
night, was filled the next morning with these pests 
to the number of thirty, and was surrounded by a 
host of others, that actually could not enter from 
want of room ! 
