1067. New, simple, and effectual Method of destroying Rats.—A few years ago, the corn-mill at Glossop was very much infested with rats. A quantity of barley, which lay on the chamber floor was hourly visited by some of them. The miller one day going to drive them away as usual, happened to catch one of them under his hat, which he killed; he then singed all the hair off its body, &c., until its skin, tail, and legs, became stiff by the operation. In this condition he set it upon its feet by the side of a heap of barley, where it stood, with pricked-up ears and tail, for some time; after this, no rat dared to come near it; and in a short space of time the mill was cleared of those depredators, and has continued so ever since.
1068. To prevent the Burrowing of Rats in Houses.—Rats may be effectually prevented from burrowing under the foundation of houses, by making an offset of stone or brick, about two feet in breadth, and eighteen inches below the surface; and by carrying up a perpendicular wall from the edge of this offset, to within a few inches of the ground. The adoption of the same plan inside will prevent the burrowing of these animals in cellars; for rats always burrow close to a wall; and finding their perpendicular course impeded, they take a horizontal direction, as far as the offset continues, when they are again stopped by the outside wall. Thus baffled, they ascend, and go off.
Those persons who have suffered in their granaries, ice-houses, and in the cellars of their dwelling-houses, by the depredations of rats, will probably deem this one of the most valuable articles of the present work.
1069. To keep Ponds and Artificial Pieces of Water free from Weeds.—At the Marquis of Exeter's seat, near Burghley, there is an artificial piece of water, about a mile in length, which used to be so over-run with weeds, that three men were employed constantly, for six months in every year, to keep them under; in which they never perfectly succeeded. About seven years ago, two pair of swans were put on the water: they completely cleared away all the weeds the first year, and none have appeared since, as the swans constantly eat them before they rise to the surface.
1070. Usefulness of Mowing Weeds.—In the month of June weeds are in their most succulent state; and in this state, especially after they have lain a few hours to wither, hungry cattle will eat greedily almost every species. There is scarcely a hedge, border, or nook, but at this season is valuable, and it must certainly be good management to embrace the transient opportunity; for in a few weeks they will become nuisances.
1071. On the great Increase of Milk from feeding Milch Cows with Sainfoin.—The quantity of milk produced by cows fed by sainfoin is nearly double to that of any other food. The milk is also much richer, and will yield a larger quantity of cream. The butter will also be better colored and flavored than any other.