OES.  30 
THE  RURAL  fJEW-Y0RS4ER. 
ways,  in  cooking,  in  skimmed  cheese,  in  making  P* 
cottage,  or  sour-milk  chooso.  which  by  many  is  ni 
esteemed  a  great  luxury  in  hot  weather,  besides 
being  a  healthful  and  nutritious  article  of  food,  in 
Another  argument  used  is  that  choose  dairy-  ei 
men  have  no  conveniences  for  the  care  of  niilk  la 
and  no  utensils  in  which  to  set  it  for  butlei  a 
making.  Wc  do  not  think  this  objection  of  Hi 
much  force,  because  at  very  little  trouble  and  it 
expense  some  place  on  the  premises  could  be  pi 
fitted  up  for  the  keep  of  one  day's  milk  once  a  ri 
week.  Those  who  have  cellars  under  the  tl 
farm  dwelling  could  very  easily  arrange  a  portion  si 
for  this  purpose,  while  the  utensils  used  foi  ac 
sotting  the  milk  in  spring  and  fall,  when  buttei-  is 
making  is  in  general  practice  among  choose  n 
dairymen,  will  bo  sultli'icnt,  wo  should  say,  for  1 
holding  one  day’s  milk  once  a  week.  Jlut  the  w 
plan  may  lie  modified  so  as  to  keep  back  on  tJie  ai 
farm  but  one  milking,  and  this  has  been  pul  into  o; 
successful  operation  at  some  factories,  thus  in¬ 
stead  of  making  two  deliveries  of  milk  on  Sunday  ki 
the  Satunlay  afternoon’s  milking  is  carried  early  V 
enough  to  be  made  into  cheoso  the  some  night,  a: 
The  Sunday  morning’s  milk  is  kept  at  home,  n 
The  Sunday  evening’s  milk  is  taken  to  the  h 
factory  ami  Umro  jH>ured  into  vats  and  kept  I\! 
until  Monday  morning. 
It  is  frequently  stated  th.at  if  chooso  factories  ti 
are  worked  on  Sunday  only  a  few*  laboreis  are  ii 
occupied,  while  the  rest  of  the  dairy  comiuutiity  p 
are  relieved,  four  or  five  iii  a  noighboi  Imoii  do  o 
the  nursery  work  and  all  others  are  at  rest.  Iho  t( 
thought  is  plausible,  and  when  first  siiggostisl  n 
will  generally  secure  approbatieu.  15ut  is  it  K 
right  to  conceutrate  the  work  of  a  community  on  d 
a  class,  and  to  exclude  a  class  wholly  from  rest  r 
and  religious  oftUuaiices?  If  the  prindido  is  e 
legilimato  in  its  application  to  tlie  dispcsal  of  /i 
milk,  why  may  it  not  extend  to  all  farm  and  c 
famUy  services*'  AVl.y  not  leave  the  euro  of  a 
stock,  and  chamber  and  dining-room,  and  kitchen  n 
work  to  a  select  few  and  perniil  wliolo  families  i 
U>  rest  without  lifting  a  finger  on  the  Sabbath  ? 
Is  it  not  better  to  distrihute  Siinday's  labor  so 
that  there  shall  be  no  onerous  burthen  imposed  1 
on  any,  or  at  least  tiiat  a  part  of  the  day  m.ay  be  t 
set  apart  to  cvei-y  elass  w  Ithoul  work  ?  ' 
Jty  holding  the  Sunday’s  milk  at  the  farm  the  ' 
labor  of  delivery  is  saved,  and  this  Is  an  item  of  ^ 
some  account  since  this  labor  must  be  p.!rformed  ‘ 
by  the' farmer  himself,  or  by  some  one  in  liis  ' 
employ.  Oomparitig  this  labor  with  the  care  of 
the  milk  on  the  farm  for  the  day,  wo  shall 
find  that  the  former  is  more  objectiouahlo  than  < 
the  latter,  for  when  milk  is  delivereil,  the  milk  ' 
cans  are  to  bo  cleansed  in  addition  tr>  the  time 
and  labor  eraifioyed  in  carting  Again  public 
considerations  and  regal'd  to  t  he  genera)  sanctity 
of  the  day  are  opposiat  to  tliis  practice,  for  the 
rattling  of  milk  carts  on  the  highway,  particu¬ 
larly  in  the  mornipg,  is  a  serious  disturbance  of 
the  quiet  Sabbath,  wliilo  the  spectacle  of  business 
openly  and  noisUy  carried  on  <luring  liolt  lime 
shocks  religious  HonsibiUtios. 
But  wltlioiit  disouHSUig  the  religious  points  of 
tlie  question  wo  find  the  practice  injurious  to 
the  community, olTensivc  to  sensitive  con/icioncoH, 
dcslruclivo  of  the  Sabbath,  and  an  infraction  of 
civil  law,  but  more  than  all  these  Sunday  work 
in  cheese  factories  is  cruelty  to  the  operatives 
there.  Tlieir  physical,  iiilollectual,  moral  and 
spiritual  interests  suffer  sorely.  Their  bodily 
vigor  is  reilucod  and  ultimately  exhausted,  for 
they  are  subject  to  the  law  which  binds  the 
raee,  and  that  makes  one  day  s  rest  in  seven 
indisiKiimable  to  the  maintenance  of  health  and 
strengtli.  Their  minds  are  enfooblod  and  im- 
povorislied  for  they  are  excluded  from  reading, 
from  church  and  other  privileges  for  which  the 
day  is  usually  set  apart. 
It  has  been  truly  remarked  tliat  the''practico 
greatly  impairs  the  saereduoss  of  the  Sabbatli  in 
the  public  mind.  At  first  revulsion  is  protluced 
and  surprise  created,  but  grailually  these  subside. 
Tlio  community  becomes  hardened  to  a  seculiar- 
zatiou  of  the  day  and  the  w’orldlmess  of  the 
rest  of  the  week  is  poured  tlirough  it.  A 
peoples  view  of  the  Sabbath  cannot  fail  to  bo 
debauched  by  the  sight  of  its  open  desecration 
and  their  observance  of  it  must  bo  rtdaxed. 
The  Sunday  work  at  a  cheese  factory,  and  tlie 
running  of  its  wagons,  are  a  death-blow  to  the 
Sabbath  in  its  neighborhood.  No  observer  but 
has  noted  the  fact.  It  is  altogether  a  differeut 
day  from  what  it  was  formerly  in  tho  general 
estimate.  Tho  practice  there  is  an  offense  to 
public  morals  since  restraints  from  vice  and 
incitements  to  virtue  are  at  least  weakened  if 
not  denied. 
We  have  enumerated  some  of  tho  consider¬ 
ations  which  influence  us  in  opposition  to  Sunday 
cheese-making.  Wo  look  upon  it  as  entirely 
wrong,  and  hope  to  see  tlie  practice  speedily 
abandoned.  And  we  suggest  tliat  the  subject 
be  earnestly  discusBed  at  the  coming  Dairy  Con¬ 
ventions  of  the  country.  We  know  that  the 
cheese  operatives  of  the  country  are  univorsnlly 
opposed  to  the  practice,  and  would  gladly  seek 
relief  if  the  dairymen  would  alloir.  The  matter 
rests  wholly  with  the  latter,  and  not  nnfreqiient- 
(  ly  the  opinions  and  action  of  two  or  three 
persona  in  a  neighborhood  control  the  whole 
number  of  patrons  of  a  factory. 
In  conclusion  it  may  be  well  to  add  tho  follow¬ 
ing  testimony  which  we  doubt  not  will  bo 
endorsed  by  Iniudreda  of  cheese  makers  :  The 
late  ilea.  John  J.  Knox  of  Kjioxboro  siiid,  as 
early  as  180.**.  in  relation  to  doing  away  with 
Hunday  chcose-making  ; — “  lhavo  had  oxpcriomio 
in  tlio  making  of  ohocso  at  fiictcries  for  tho 
past  three  years.  Tho  cost  of  pans  is  sometimes 
raised  as  an  objection,  but  1  have  found  tliat 
tho  number  ncoossiu'y  for  spring  and  fall,  is 
BUflicient  for  Sunday  use.  If  want  of  room  for 
sotting  milk  is  alleged,  yot  only  the  same  room 
is  necessary  for  tho  milk  of  .Sunday  that  is 
needed  for  every  day,  when  the  factory  is  closed. 
Tho  dinlcully  of  making  good  butter  in  warm 
weather  wo  have  obviated  by  using  ico,  an 
article  which  every  farmer  can  obtain  l>y  a  little 
expense  and  forothonglit. 
nio  luxury  of  good  fresh  butter  of  the  house¬ 
keeper's  own  niauurac.t.iire  is  of  prime  account. 
Why  should  farmers  be  content  with  an  inferior 
article  from  liay-fed  cows,  when  their  lablos 
may  bo  graced  with  yoUow,  tempting  rolls  ob¬ 
tained  from  cows  fresli  from  tlio  pastures  ? 
Many  families  also  find  “Dutch  Cheese”  no 
ti'itling  iuxuary  daring  tho  warm  8^.^aHou,  At  a 
time  also  when  the  price  of  iiork  has  risoii  so 
high,  tho  milk  of  one  day  in  tho  week  is  an  im¬ 
portant  item  to  those  who  jircfcr  to  keep  their 
own  pigs  for  fattening.”  "  And  wo  ought  to 
take  no  narrow  view  of  the  subject.  Whatever 
relaxes  tho  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath,  is  sure  to 
lower  the  staiidard  of  public  morals  and  to 
(lo[ircciate  every  material  interest.  T/ie  oalui'  <if 
rail  vMalr  in  a  iHnninunily  is  all'echxl,  bi/  llwfact  | 
wlHilur  or  otjl  iknl  cionmnnUy  is  n  !<iihbnih- 
ki'rjHiig  a  tot.  ckurch-fjoing  nnniiiun  ili/ ;  and 
cheese  factories  in  operation,  sot  tho  oxamplo  of 
a  oonspicuous  violation  of  tho  Fourth  eouimaud- 
mont  and  euoourago  and  embolden  tho  public  to 
jiractice  it.” 
Mr.  .loHN  Nhwhi'u  of  Lilcldlcdd,  N.  Y.,  says: 
"  1  have  kept  aclioesoilairy  fur  sixteon  years,  and 
live  within  two  miles  of  throe  lactories  and  am 
tlio  salo.sman  for  one  of  tliom,  and  have  tho 
opportunity  for  freely  visiting  tlii;m  all.  I  have 
never  seen  tlio  time  when  1  liolieved  Sunday 
olieesc-makiiig  in  lio  a  work  of  nece.ssity,  and  I 
Uiink  all  our  faetoiles  would  make  nearly  as 
much  choorto  from  six  day’s  labor  as  they  now  do 
from  sev'  n.  1  presume  that  a  largo  majority  of 
those  runuiug  factories  are  not  only  willing  but 
desirous  to  rest  on  tlio  Babliatli,  as  but  fuw  can 
endure  tlieir  iucossant  labor.”  The  subject  is 
one  of  great  inlerost  and  importance,  and  we 
luqKi  to  SCO  it  agitatovl  among  dairymen  during 
the  winter,  and  that  the  cheese  factories  of  the 
State  may  liegin  the  next  year’s  operations  by 
dropping  Sunday  work. 
HOW  GOOD  COWS  ARE  PRODDCED. 
Thk  remark  has  often  l)«en  made  by  dairymen 
that  village  cows,  or  cows  bought  from  iiorsons 
who  kee^v  but  one  or  I  wo  ammals  at  a  lime,  fail 
to  yield  so  much  iiuliv  whou  placed  in  the  herd 
on  tho  farm  as  when  in  the  hands  of  tho  villager, 
or  owner  ,of  one  or  two  animals.  Wo  have 
known  dairymen  to  purchase  I  lie  single  cow 
from  the  villager,  because  of  her  notoriety  as  a 
deep  milker  and  at  a  very  large  price,  but  in 
almost  every  case  the  animal,  when  idaced  upon 
the  farm  with  tho  other  cows,  tni  nod  out  to  bo 
no  more  than  an  ordinary  milktr,  though  well 
known  to  have  been  superior  in  tliis  respect 
when  kept  as  a  single  cow.  Again,  on  tho 
other  hand  culled  animals  from  a  largo  herd 
when  sold  to  persons  kcepuig  one  cow,  liave 
turned  out  to  bo  remarkably  good  milkers. 
Instances  of  this  kind  have  come  under  our 
notice  many  times,  and  during  tho  past  summer 
a  uotable  examjile  was  shown  us  wliero  two 
cows  hod  been  sold  by  a  dairyman  owning  a 
large  herd  on  account  of  their  suiaJl  yield  of 
milk.  Yet  when  placed  away  from  tho  herd  and 
pastured  by  themselves,  apart  from  other  cows, 
they  rose  to  lirst-olass  milkers  equaling  in  theii' 
yield  the  best  cows  In  tho  herd  of  their  former 
owner. 
Those  who  Jiavc  w  atched  the  record  of  remark¬ 
able  cows,  noticed  in  agricultural  and  other 
journals,  will  perhaps  have  observed  that  Lbese 
extra  largo  yields  have  been  made  almost  invari¬ 
ably  by  tlie  one  or  two  cow  daiiy.  Now  the  ex¬ 
planation  of  this  fact  is,  that  when  the  cows  are 
kept  singly  or  in  small  numbers,  they  generally 
receive  more  care  and  attention,  are  potted 
more,  while  they  get  better  and  greater  variety 
of  feed,  all  of  which  tend  to  a  larger  secretion  of 
milk.  NYo  do  not  mean  to  imply  that  there  are 
no  extraordinary  good  milkers  in  large  herds, 
beeause  this  would  not  be  ti'ue,  but  what  wo  are 
to  learn  from  the  facts  named  is,  that  kind 
treatment  and  care  with  attention  to  study  tho 
wants  and  disposition  of  milch  stock  will  make  a 
vast  difference  in  tho  yield  of  milk. 
As  an  additional  verification  of  what  we  have 
said,  we  find  iu  a  late  iiuml>er  of  the  Country 
Goutlenian.  a  conmiuiiieation  from  I’uir.iP 
Snydku  of  Vineland,  N.  J.  In  187.'!  ho  bought  a 
common  cow  which  had  been  picked  up  in  Pliila- 
delpliia  by  one  of  the  butchers  of  Viueland,  and 
after  she  had  changed  hands  several  times.  Mr. 
Snyokr  puroliBsed  her  for  sf.'ifl.  Ho  describes 
her  her  as  largo,  h.aiidsoine  in  sluipo,  docile  and 
young — about  six  years  old  and  at  the  time  she 
come  into  his  hands  was  giving  about  8  quarts 
of  milk  per  day,  Mr.  SNVuK.a  lias  been  caroful 
to  keep  an  exact  record  of  tbe  milk  of  this  cow 
during  tho  jiast  year,  ami  wo  find  tliat  she  gave 
from  tho  16lh  of  .January  hi  Oct.  30th  a  total  of 
9.084  pounds  of  milk.  Tho  amount  of  butler 
made  from  her  milk  during  tlic  same  .time  was 
320  pounds,  whicli,  adding  tho  auioiint  which 
could  have  lieon  made  from  508  pounds  of  milk 
sold  and  the  total  yield  of  butler  during  tho  290 
days,  is  01 1  pounds  7  ounces  or  18  83-100  ounces 
per  day.  Now  as  this  cow  was  yielding  lu 
Novonibor  up  to  tho  lllth,  at  the  rate  of  !(’> 
pounds  l.'ij  J  ounces  of  milk  per  day,  Mr.  SnvuI'JU 
concludes  that  it  is  not  extravagant  to  suppose 
that  in  the  .59  days  yet  wanting  to  comploto  lier 
full  year,  she  would  give  enough  more  to’inako 
her  total  annual  butter  cainieity  amount  to  400 
pounds.  Tliis  certainly  may  be  considered  a 
remarkable  yield  from  a  cow  of  “  iio  particular 
breed.” 
Now  as  to  her  treatment ;  Mr.  S.NVoim  says  his 
farm  being  a  fruit  fai'iii  tho  cow  liad  no  pasture 
whatever,  and  very  little  green  foddir.  Her 
diet  and  manner  of  keep  are  detailed  as  follows  : 
“  Her  regular  diet  has  b«w'ii  dry,  uncut  hay, 
averaging  18  to  20  pounds  per  day,  with  4  quarts 
of  mill  feed,  ,*  h  meal,  2-8  bran,  each  morning, 
noon  and  evening,  also  about  one  jiint  of  oil 
meal  per  d-ay.  This  and  tJio  mill  fecal  is  given 
in  a  pail  of  warm  water.  AVlicnevor  wo  can  got 
a  bite  of  grass  for  her  she  gels  it,  hut  she  lias 
not  had  200  pounds  of  it  in  the  two  sunimorH  I 
have  owned  lier.  That  eiiteriinslug  weed,  piu's- 
lano,  is  furnished  in  its  season  as  often  as  wo 
can  And  time  to  pull  it  iqi,  and  Bomotimos  grccii 
fodder  corn,  but  tlio  latter  iloes  not  seem  to  in¬ 
crease  the  flow  of  milk.  She  is  shiblod  winter 
and  summer  ;  in  cool  weather  on  tho  liarn  floor, 
tied  in  a  stall  about  I)  feet  wkie ;  in  iiiid-suniiuer 
in  the  barn  cellar,  in  a  sort  of  box  stall,  about 
10  foot  square,  whore  she  can  fight  flies  at  lier 
loisiiro.  At  present  prices  of  hay  and  mill  Iced 
lier  cost  of  keep  is  about  30  cents  por  day.” 
Mr.  Snyoku  says  that  this  cow  has  never 
given  any  oxtraordiiiaiy  massos  lier  best  being 
10  pounds  12  ounoos  on  Ajirit  23d,  and  in  con¬ 
clusion  be  remarks  that  “  it  may  bo  set  down  as 
a  fuel  that  judicious  caro  and  feeding  will 
always  pay  and  virr  versa.''  To  this  we  heartily 
Kiibscrlbo  and  our  exporionco  teaches  us  that 
tliere  would  bo  many  more  good  cows  in  tiio 
country  if  this  jihuciplo  wore  heller  understood 
and  apprcciatod. 
In  tho  jiroduction  of  good  cows  wo  do  not 
undor-estlmute  blood  and  good  breeding,  but 
what  we  wish  to  impress  upon  dairymen  is  that 
there  must  b«  something  more  than  thi.s,  and 
that  is  that  kind  caro  and  judicious  treatment 
are  often  capable  of  making  a  HiqHjrior  milker 
from  an  animal  with  no  ”  royal  blood  iu  lier 
veins  ”  while  tlie  roverso  makes  a  poor  milker 
out  of  the  best  lired  cow  in  t  ho  land. 
fortunes  to  tho  poor  innocent  moon.  It  is 
wonderful  what  effect  previous  teachings  have, 
for  the  minds  of  tho  young  are  so  iniprcssiblo 
that  tlicy  readily  holiove  what  is  told  them  by 
their  itareiits  and  associates,  but  it  is  dejiloraldo 
Giat  there  should  bo  so  many  foolish  errors  and 
stupid  falsehoods  believed,  making  those  who 
credit  Bucli  absurd  stories,  apjioar  so  very  ridicu¬ 
lous. 
Setting  milk  in  deep  or  shallow  vessels  was 
said  to  niiiko  a  great  dill'erenco  iu  favor  of  the 
latter  and  a  warm  dairy  was  ueocHsary  iu  vpinler; 
now  recent  experiments  prove  those  teaciiings 
erroneous,  for  so  that  tliere  is  no  actual  frost 
tbe  cream  will  rise  as  well  as  if  20  or  30  dogreos 
warmer,  tlicn  when  I  was  in  England  tho  farm¬ 
ers’  wives  always  hold  the  opinion  if  butter  was 
churned  very  ipilckly  there  was  not  so  much  of 
it,  now  tlio  churiis  that  will  turn  cream  into  but¬ 
ter  and  biitlennilk  soonest  aro  prized  as  tho 
best.  It  is  dilficnlt  to  imagine  what  most  out¬ 
rageously  cxtraordinai-y  folly  men  migJit  bo 
brought  to  believe  if  tho  previous  teachings 
began  with  tlie  education  and  wore  continued  uii- 
lefutod.  WoRKiNd  Fabmer. 
DESTROYING  RATS  AND  MICE. 
Janii  Ostononij). 
PREVIOUS  TEACHINGS. 
Beware  of  the  teachings  of  our  ancestors  and 
of  every  kind  till  there  is  positive  proof  of  their 
truth,  for  the  most  startling  exposures  of  the 
follies  implicitly  believed  as  being  souud  sense, 
aro  every  year  couiitig  li>  light. 
When  1  was  a  boy  bleeding  was  so  general 
that  it  was  done  poriudicolly  witli  man  and 
boast,  every  barber  was  as  well  prepared  to  take 
blood  as  to  cut  the  hair,  and  healthy  men  would 
bo  bled  every  spring  and  autumn,  and  cverj’ 
blttcksniilb  would  blood  and  give  a  ball  of  physic 
whenever  a  horse  seemed  a  “  little  out  of  sorts.” 
Doctors  who  use<l  to  follow  tho  fat  hounds  | 
always  had  lauwtsjin  their  jiockets,  and  farmers 
generally  carried  Jleams  so  that  if  a  sportsman 
hiul  a  severe  fall  from  his  horse  blood  would  be 
let  with  the  lancet,  or  if  a  horse  was  injured  by 
accident  or  over-ridden  Die  lleaiii  was  used  to 
take  blood  from  him.  Now,  ui  less  than  half  a 
century  or  not  more,  any  one  would  bo  judged 
insane  to  do  it. 
'  It  is  not  very  much  longer  eiiico  mankind 
believed  in  witches,  wizards  and  witchcraft, 
generally,  also  in  the  appearance  of  ghosts,  and 
in  fairies  as  well  as  in  tho  visits  of  tho  old  fellow 
from  below  in  all  manner  of  shapes  and  forms. 
The  moon  too  Jiad  influence  on  tlio  blond,  on 
wounds,  on  meat  and  every  kind  of  pickle  or 
preserve,  and  likewise  the  brain  of  every  excitable 
being  was  said  to  bo  offccted  much  more  strong¬ 
ly  at  certain  stages,  and  tho  term  lunatic  came 
from  this  teaching.  However,  there  are  at 
large  a  most  extraordinary  number  of  moon¬ 
struck  people  in  the  agricaltural  diKtiicU  at  the 
present  day,  who  charge  all  maimer  of  iiiis- 
Thehk  is  many  a  rarmer’s  barn  at  this  season 
which  might  bo  appropriately  termed  a  huge 
“  ratary,”  from  the  mimber  of  these  destructive 
little  aiiiiualH  wliicli  infest  it-  The  amount 
of  grain  destroyetl  by  a  few  dozen  rata  would 
keep  a  bog  or  cow  through  winter,  and  it  is  a 
pity  to  let  such  vermin  consume  food  which  is 
so  much  needed  by  more  nsofnl  animals,  when, 
by  a  little  caro  and  attention  it  might  bo  saved. 
Tho  destnictivencHS  of  rats  and  mice  however 
docs  not  stop  with  tlio  grain  they  consume,  but 
tlioy  gnaw  holes  through  bins,  barrels  and  other 
vessels,  freipicntly  lotting  their  contents  run  to 
waste,  besides,  barnoss,  oariiago  robes,  blankets, 
grain  bags  and  various  other  articles  are  in  con- 
atant  danger  of  neiiig  destroyed  by  the  posts. 
But,  say  some  of  our  correspondents  “  wo 
have  tried  almost  every  thing,  to  nd  our  premises 
of  tliLs  pest,  all  to  no  purpose,  and  hero  they  are 
this  winter  as  abiuidaiit  as  ever."  Tlio  dog,  cat, 
and  trap  have  all  made  war  upon  tho  rata  with¬ 
out  an  af‘iiarrnt  diminution  of  tlieir  iminbors, 
all  of  which  may  bo  true,  but  it  is  a  (lueslion  if 
the  few  destroyed  by  those  moans  have  not  boon 
a  lieiielU.  Rats  aro  migratory  in  their  liabits, 
and  they  very  soon  discover  where  the  best  food 
can  lu)  obtained  at  tho  least  risk  of  their  lives, 
I  hence  they  will  go  from  one  barn  to  another,  or 
oven  travel  miles  lu  a  night  to  find  a  peaceful, 
(pilot  place  where  at  tho  same  time  food  is 
abundant. 
Wo  hai’o  known  them  to  vacate  a  farm  barn 
in  a  night,  in  coiisoijueuco  of  one  of  their  mim¬ 
ber  being  severely  wounded  with  shot.  Then, 
again  no  amount  of  shooting,  liarrasBing  with 
dogs,  and  traps,  would  make  them  leave,  still 
there  is  a  way  in  wliich  one’s  proinisus,  esxiecially 
fariii-hulldingH  can  bo  freed  from  this  vennin, 
and  that  is  by  poisoning.  But  before  a  man 
attorajits  to  make  a  raid  on  rats  and  mice  with 
siicli  wcai>oiiH,  tio  slionld  prepare  a  private 
apiiartmonb  for  thoii'  especial  reception  whore 
larger  aniiiials  oamiut  intrude.  A  room  in  the 
cellar  or  altlo  may  be  set  apart  for  lids  purpose, 
or  oven  a  largo  box  will  answer,  tho  entrance  to 
it  being  jur»t  largo  enough  to  admit  the  victims. 
Then  a  royal  feast  may  bo  prepared  for  them  of 
dainty  bits  of  cheese,  bread  ami  oatmeal  cake, 
but  not  at  first  poisoned,  for  when  there  is 
plenty  of  gruin  about,  rats  aro  not  readily 
eiiticod  into  new  (piarters  in  search  of  better 
food.  But  after  baiting  tliom  for  a  few  days 
the  work  of  destruction  may  bo  begun.  Of 
oourse,  there  aro  a  variety  of  poisons  which  can 
bo  used,  but  some  of  tliom  aro  quite  too  danger¬ 
ous  to  have  about  whore  there  aro  dogs,  cats 
and  other  larger  animals  wlin  ui.ay  pick  and  oat 
a  poisoned  rat  or  inoiiHe,  consoepiontly  wo 
recommond  some  kind  nut  (juito  as  dangerous  as 
phosphorous  paste  and  strychnine,  althougli 
these  can  under  many  circumstanoea  bo  used 
I  with  safety.  But  whatever  jiuison  is  emidoyed, 
I  water  should  always  be  placed  conveniently  at 
I  hand,  and  inside  of  tlio  room  or  box  w  hore  the 
>  poisoned  food  is  sol,  in  order  that  tho  rats  may 
'  quench  thoir  thirst  and  dlo  on  the  spot. 
’  Ah  rats  aro  very  intelligent  and  capable  of 
waniiiig  thoii'  follows  of  danger,  it  is  frequently 
^  necessary  to  change  tho  location  of  both  traps 
and  jioisons  if  those  animals  aro  very  abundant 
1  about  one  s  iiromisos. 
’  J'oison  No.  1.  A  jiint  of  plaster  Paris  tbor- 
^  oughly  mixed  with  a  quart  of  oatmeal  will  prove 
fatal  to  cither  rats  or  mice. 
‘  J'oisoti,  No.  2.— Carbonate  of  Buryles  two 
‘  liouiids,  coiiimoii  lard,  one  pound,  mi.xed  to- 
getlier  and  left  where  the  ruts  can  find  it.  It  is 
^  tasteless,  odorless,  and  impalpable,  but  produces 
*  extreme  thirst,  causing  death  immediately  after 
,  drinking. 
The  frozen  earth  covered  with  early,  compact 
snow  beB[ieakH  good  orops  next  year. 
