24 April 1918 Rat-catching has quite a literature of its own which should convince anyone of the possibility of reducing this great waster in a very short time

The weather has continued favourable for both farm and garden work, and considerable progress has been made by the farmer and the allotment-holder. I don’t think we need yet despair (should favourable weather help us) of getting the great crop of potatoes that we have been called upon by the authorities to try for.

Man v rat: could the long war soon be over? | Jordan Kisner Read more

The letter to farmers signed by Viscount Chaplin and Lord Lambourne again calls attention to the enormous extent of the destruction of food in the stackyards and granaries by the brown rat. They point out that Sir James C. Browne estimated the loss in 1908 at £15,000,000 per annum. “The value of that quantity of food to-day would be close on £40,000,000.” They, however, greatly underestimate their case against these omnivorous vermin. There is scarcely a building or a field, in town or country, where the rats do not, if opportunity offers, destroy food of every kind. As is pointed out, rats multiply faster than any other vermin. There is no doubt that civilisation has greatly decreased their natural enemies, and now the war has greatly reduced the number of men who waged war against them. Consequently they are now consuming food faster than ever. Rat-catching has quite a literature of its own, and even a slight study of it will convince anyone of the possibility of reducing this great waster in a very short time. Why is it not done?