I shall be glad to give " Plague " a hint how to banish his rats. I lived twenty years in an old country house, and on three separate occasions I had an invasion of rats - not a single rat, but a colony each time. The first time and the first notice of them was a flutter in the pigeon loft, and on going to see I found eight rats in full pursuit. I got steel traps, etc, and caught several, but no diminution was perceptible, there was such a quantity about the place. I then tried the following experiment: I got a box trap, and, after a deal of trouble and patience, caught a rat, and, getting his tail under the door, tied a string to it, then pulled him out, and shaking him till he hung quietly head down, I caught him with my finger and thumb by the back of the neck and cut off the string. I next painted him all over with gas tar, except the head, which must not be touched. This is essential. When I had put as much tar upon him as I could get to stick, I took him to his hole, and let him run in, and saw no more of either him or his companions for that time, till a fresh colony came some years after, which was banished the same way.

Care must be taken not to hurt him, and if tar gets on his eyes, mouth, or nose, you must kill him and get another, as he must be able to run through all the holes in the house. I should like to hear if "Plague" succeeds with the experiment. - H. W. in Gardening Illustrated.