There are many farm buildings of various kinds that should be made
proof against rats. In most cases, however, the application of the
general principles of rat proofing, as previously explained, will
suffice. Not only should all buildings in which food is kept be made
inaccessible to rats, but adjoining and near-by buildings and premises
as well. The procedure to be followed in the case of farm dwellings is
omitted here, as sufficient is included under the next heading, Rat
Proofing City Buildings, the conditions with respect to dwellings on
farms and in towns being quite similar.
Outside cellars frequently become infested with rats, and great havoc
to stored produce almost invariably results. Considerable expense,
if necessary, is justified in making the storage cellar rat proof. A
cellarway with wooden steps and sills and earth floor is usually the
source of the trouble. The sill soon rots or the rats burrow under
it to gain entrance. The remedy is to construct a concrete floor
and cellarway. This not only will exclude rats but will prove more
economical in the long run. (Fig. 15.)
[Illustration: 7651-C
Figure 14.--Coop built up off the ground, rather than with the floor
resting on the ground and thereby affording rats a desirable hiding
place.]
[Illustration: Figure 15.--A, Cellarway before rat proofing; B,
cellarway rat proofed]