1 Mar., 1902. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 207 
ne shelter belts of trees round or about their holdings, and individuals could 
e aided in raising trees for free distribution in their neighbourhood, whilst 
every means should be adopted of distributing information respecting the best 
methods of establishing plantations of forest trees. The wholesale destruction 
of indigenous forests should be stopped, and, if possible, some concessions 
should be made (as is done in some other countries), to those persons who 
succeed in growing a considerable number of useful forest trees. 
Sanp Drirrs P- 
occur on or near the coast, and serious losses have resulted from the drifting of 
the sand dunes and hummocks on to good land adjacent. In nearly every 
instance this drifting has followed the destruction by stock of the natural 
vegetation, and the efforts to check or remedy the trouble have, with few 
exceptions, been very spasmodic. About ten or eleven years ago a quantity of 
marram grass was imported from New South Wales, and it was planted with 
most satisfactory results on the sand dunes in the vicinity of the Normanville 
Jetty, and there are now several hundred acres of this grass thriving in the 
locality. We have ample local proof, if such is required, that by systematic 
work and the planting of marram grass, the worst of drifts can be conquered. 
Owing to the destruction, by overstocking, of the indigenous vegetation which 
held the sand together, there are now many thousands of acres of drifting sand, 
which is rapidly overwhelming much good grazing country.” 
FORESTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
The King’s birthday was commemorated at Bloomfontein, South Africa, 
by the planting of 16,000 trees on land chosen for afforestation. 
TO DESTROY RATS WITHOUT TRAPS. 
A correspondent of the Brisbane Courter of 11th February forwards to 
that journal an extract from an English paper on the subject of dealing with 
rats. The plan seems so simple that itis well worthy of a trial here. We may 
state that birdlime can be easily made by boiling down linseed oil. If boiled 
oil is used, the concentration will take less time than with unboiled oil. The 
proper way to bring it to a right consistency is to treat it as glue is treated. 
Put the oil into a tin, place the tin in a saucepan of water over the fire, and let 
it boil slowly until it is of the right thickness and stickiness. 
The following is the extract referred to :— 
“Rouen on Rats anp Mice. 
“Tt is not generally known how readily rats may be caught by means of 
birdlime. If it is desired to make a colony desert their burrows, it is only 
necessary to smear a little round the entrances. If it is desired to catch them, 
the best way is to dress plenty of straws and spread them thickly on the 
ound around the burrows. Among the straws throw some attractive bait— 
malt sprinkled with oil of carraway is a good draw. When the spot is visited 
next morning the straws will be found gathered up in little bundles, and in the 
centre of each will be found a rat, alive or dead according to the extent of its 
entanglement. Do not be tempted to place your foot upon one of those rats 
if it still struggles, but kill it with a stick. If the birdlime is to be used indoors, 
take a piece of stiff brown paper and put the sticky stuff in the centre. In 
England, use ‘Cheshire’; abroad, ‘Jap’ or ‘Dak.’ And, caution—When you go 
to see the bag, don’t take your dog, or the last stage may be worse than the 
first.” 
