The Extermination of Vermin. The following comparatively few receipts and directions for destroying, trapping and driving away insects and vermin of all kinds, have been selected as the most efficacious, from a large amount of information on the subject.

1893. To Catch Rats

1893. To Catch Rats. Cover a common barrel with stiff, stout paper, tying the edge round the barrel; place a board so that the rats may have easy access to the top; sprinkle cheese parings or other feed for the rats on the paper for several days, until they begin to think that they have a right to their daily rations from this source; then place in the bottom of the barrel a piece of rock about 6 or 7 inches high, filling with water until only enough of it projects above the water for one rat to lodge upon. Now replace the paper, first cutting a cross in the middle, and the first rat that comes on the barrel top goes through into the water, and climbs on the rock. The paper comes back to its original position, and 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.

1894. Rat Trap

1894.    Rat Trap. Fill a barrel about half full of water. Make the cover 1/2 inch smaller all around than the inside of the top of the barrel. Drive a nail or wire on each side of the cover, exactly opposite each other, as a pivot, and fit in the barrel, so that a light weight will readily tip the cover. Put the bait on top, in a firm way, and place an empty barrel or box near by. This is a simple, but excellent trap.

1895. Bait to Catch Rats and Mice

1895.    Bait to Catch Rats and Mice. If a drop of oil of rhodium be poured upon some bait in a common or wire spring trap, and the trap be set in an infested locality, in a short time the cage will be found occupied by vermin. Rats and mice possess a great liking for the oil, and will risk anything to obtain it.

1896. To Catch Muskrats

1896.    To Catch Muskrats. Take a steel trap with a single spring, set it 11/2 inches under water, hang part of a sweet apple over the foot plate, and chain the trap to a stake or rush. The reason why the trap should be set under water is that when the muskrat sees the apple he will jump for it; when he comes down he gets his paws in the trap.

1897. Rat Poison

1897.    Rat Poison. Recent experiments have shown that squills is an excellent poison for rats. The powder should be mixed with some fatty substance, and spread upon slices of bread. The pulp of onions is also good. Rats are very fond of either.

1898. To Drive Rats from a Building

1898.    To Drive Rats from a Building. Dissolve 2 ounces glue, 2 ounces tincture of assafoetida, and 2 ounces potash in water, and add 1/2 ounce phosphorus to the mixture. Then in a wire cage trap, baited with corn meal scented with oil of anise, catch two or three rats; if they are very numerous, more will be necessary; singe the hair partly off these in such a way as to hurt them as little as possible, then give them a slight coating with the above mixture, heated warm; let them loose into their holes, and there will be no more trouble with the rats for months to come. This mixture will last 2 years. Or: Take chloride of lime, and scatter it dry all around, and into their holes, and wherever they haunt, and they will leave at once.