Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/639

 Popular Science Monthly

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��Catching Rats Wholesale

WHERE there are many rats, a trap which will catch a large number, without being reset, is a great advantage. An excellent device may be made from a large bucket, half-filled with water.

���Many original rat-traps have been devised

by the soldiers in the trenches, where the

vermin flock in droves. Here are two of

the traps, now in use

Place a board against the edge of the bucket for the rats to ascend. Provide a metal piece, which can be pivoted at the upper end of the board and bent into the shape shown in the diagram. The pivoting may be easily effected by sim- ply stretching a wire over the flap and fastening it to screw-eyes in the end of the inclined board. Place lard or bacon at the overhanging end of the metal piece for bait. The rats ascend the inclined board; when the bait is reached, their weight overbalances the upper flap, and they plunge into the water, the flap re- suming its original position.

Another good metliod requires a bar- rel of water. Attach a small board to the end of a stick and place this in the barrel vertically, so that the board forms a small platform, which should be sub- merged slightly in the water. Cover the top of the barrel with parchment or even strong paper or cardboard. Make a U-shaped cut in this covering to form a tongue for holding the bait. A rat approaching the bait is precipitated into the water. He soon reaches the plat- form and cries out in distress ; other rats come and they also fall into the water. A fight for the board ensues and the wouki be rescuers are skiughtercd together with the original victim. — F. P. Manx.

��A News Stand and Blueprint Washer Combined

A COLLAPSIBLE news stand which can be turned to the desir- able, if not closely related use of blue- print washer can be made effectively from ordinary \" lumber and i" pip- ing. The piping adds much to the rigidity of the news stand and offers the opportunity for the extra use of blue- print washer with the simple assistance of a garden hose. The magazine rack makes an excellent drying place for the blueprints.

As constructed, the stand will fold close to the wall and can be hooked or locked in position. The main support of the stand is made of i" piping, fastened to wall and sidewalk. The shelf turns on the elbow fitting which is also the outlet for the blueprint wash- ing system. The front legs are hinged and shut back on the shelf when it is closed. The rack is set out from the wall by a bracket built so that when the shelf is closed up against the wall, the guards push the back of the rack pin- ions up and drop the rack down inside the shelf. This closes the entire appara- tus inside the shelf with the exception of the front legs, which can be locked down.

���The magazine rack can be turned into a blueprint washer. An inventive boy de- signed and built this

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