Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/504

476&#93; 47S] R A T their haunts, and perish. Mr. Tay- lor observes that, as they are very cunning, the mixture ought to be 3eft for 48 hours, in case a small portion only be eaten ; after which time the remainder should be burnt. Mr. FuNKE, in his valuable Na- tural History, calculated for Ger- man Schools, communicates the following curious method of expel- ling, or rather dispersing, rats from dwelling-houses : — Take one "or more of these predatory creatures caught alive in a trap, and immerse them to the neck in a mixture con- sisting of equal quantities of tar and train oil : thus anointed, set the animals at iiberty. The offensive smell of this preparation comjTels them to traverse all the holes of their companions with the most distressing anxiety; in consequence of which they colleftively disap- ' pear. — A nodier expedient prartised in Germany, is that of confining a Jive rat in a cage, and feeding it exclusively with living mice or rats. Having been for some time accus- tomed to such food, the captive snimal is, alter a short fasting, suf- fered to return to its former habita- tion, where it is said to persecute, and indiscriminately devour its own species. M. Gaschitz, one of the most cstetmed German writers on eco- nomy, states the following to be an efix'Cir.al remedy for destroying not only moles and wice, but also rats infesting orchards, and injuring the roots of fruit-trees : — Boil a num- ber of fresh walnuts divested of their external green rind, for an hour and half in water ; to which a large handfid of hemlock leaves has previously been added. As all these vermin are extremely fond of such nuts, place one of the latter thus prepared within the RAT cavity of every rnole-hill, Tho5« which partake of this envenomed fruit, must inevitably perish. The sanie author advises gardeners to plant a single clove of garlic near every tree ;. in consequence of M'hich simple prav!^ice, neither mice nor rats will approach it. He ob- serves, that the strong odour of this bulbous root is probably offensive to their organs of breathino' ; and, whatever be the cause, he pledges himself for the success of the ex- pej'iraent. In Sweden, the green branches of the Bird-Cherry YP/-m;«/,v Padus, L.) are successfully einployed for the dispersion of rais, moles, and li/gs, when placed in the corners of granaries, stables, dwelling- houses, and mole-hills ; but it will be necessary to re-place the dry sprigs, once a week, or fortnight, with fresh branches. Among other rernedles, we re- commend that commonly employed on the Continent, where a sponge is fried with salt-butter in a pan ; then compressed between two plates ; and cut into small pieces, which are scattered about the holes frequented by rots and mice. This preparation is devoured with avi- dity ; it excites thirst in the ani- mals, which should be gratified, by exposing shallow vessels containing water. On drinking this fluid, af- ter having swallowed the burnt sponge, it distends tlieir stomach, and proves a fatal repast, M. V. d. HoRST, a landed pro- prietor in Germany, has lately an- nounced in one of the public jour- nals, that a peacock kept in a poul- try-yard, or about the premises of a dwelling-house infested with rats and mice, is an excellent scarecrow against such free- hooters : nay, be remarksj that even a cock ot an early