Home › The Flower And Kitchen Garden › To Catch Rats

To Catch Rats

Cover a common

1888. To Preserve Potatoes and Other barrel with stiff, stout paper, tying the edge Roots. These are preserved in different round the barrel; place a board so that the ways, according to the object in view. Tube- rats may have easy access to the top; sprinkle rous roots, as those of the dahlia, pæonia, cheese parings or other feed for the rats on tuberose, etc., intended to be planted in the the paper for several days, until they begin to succeeding spring, are preserved through the think that they have a right to their daily winter in dry earth, in a temperature rather rations from this source; then place in the under than above what is natural to them. bottom of the barrel a piece of rock about 6 So may the bulbous roots of commerce, as or 7 inches high, filling with water until only ayacinths, tulips, onions, etc.; but, for conve- enough of it projects above the water for one nience, these are kept either loose, in cool dry rat to lodge upon. Now replace the paper, shelves or lofts, or the finer sorts in papers, first cutting a cross in the middle, and the first ill the season of planting. Roots of all kinds rat that comes on the barrel top goes through may be preserved in an ice-house till the re- into the water, and climbs on the rock. The THE EXTERMINATION OF VERMIN. paper comes back to its original position, and carbon seems to be useful in certain cases, the second rat follows the first. Then begins a fight for the possession of the dry place on the stone, the noise of which attracts the others, who share the same fate.