The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-09

The NIaggot Fly.

flies. Fine-woOled sheep, from the
compactness OF their wool, do not suffer
from the attacks OF the latter, unless
from scours or wounds, but the French
long-wooled varieties are especially ex-
posed. The insects passing under the
name OF fly, though most troublesome
in July and August, attack sheep from
May to September inclusive, depositing
their eggs among the wool, in general
about the tail, the roots OF the horns,
or any part which affords, from its filthy
condition, q prospect OF suitable pro-
vision for the mRggot. When the eggs
Rre Matched, a process which is, in sui
try weather, almost instantaneous, the
maggot inyades the skin, md speedily
brings the adjacent parts into fit state
for the reception OF succeeding mem
bers Of its species, The backs Of long
wooded sheep are, from their exposure,
moro liable to be selected by the flies us
receptacle for their eggs than the cor
responding parts in such as arc covered
by short, thick fleece. No sooner has
the mAggot begun its operations than
the sheep becomes uneasy and restless,
rubbing itself on fences and trees, and
endeavoring by every means in its pow
er to free itself from the annoyance.
Teased by the constant irritation, fever
soon sets in, and il the sheep is not re.
lieved by the shepherds aid, death will
inevitably follow.
To ward of the attacks OF flies, vari-
Gus substances obnoxious to them have
been recommended. Tar. with spirits
OF turpentinc, may be applied about the
ears, horns, and tail while others pre-
fer little melted butter or lard, thick
ened with flour or sulphur, put along
the sleeps back, which Is, on the 0u.
thority Of Blackjack, m eiTectual pre-.
yentive, l have preferred q mixture
OF tar and turpentine to anything else,
MS nothing is so Rbhorent to all insects
rs the odor Of turpentine. Sheep far.
meB cannot be too vigilant during the
summer months, and IL my OF their
flocks areGtfected with scours or wounds
they should be got up withoutany delay
and the above application made. Rams
should be still more closely watched,
especially the Saxons and Merinos,
whose pugnacious tempers incline them
80 frequently to battle, often inAicting
WOUNDS around the bases Of the horns
which are certain to call the flies. Many
valuable rams have been lost from this
cause, which watchfulness might have
prevented.
r, D. Curtis-I have had some expe.
rience with those maggots. They are
apt to appear after wet weather. l no.
ticod after long spell Of wet, sultry
weather, that one Of my bucks was nj.
Hicted MS Mr.. Morrill, represents. ex.
amined him and found that he was coy.
cred with millions Of the maggots. |
tried rubbing them off with single,
but abandoned that, and went to bath.
ing with spirits Of turpentine; that
killed them. He was valuableanimal
and lived for many years afterward.
S. L. Todd would recommend com.
mon pine tar ms being equally as good
il not better than spirits OF turpentine
and not so harsh.
II. L. Cotton-I like Mr.. Todd's tar
idea, especially ifthe taris tliinned with
spirits Of turpentine.
New Method of Curing Hams, sc.
1t is proposed to better preserve
hams, bacon, and the like, by encom.
passing them with an impervious cont.
ing Of specially prepared paper. After
killing, the swine are hung up in ten.
perature OF forty degrees for thirty-six
hours then packed in ice and salt dur.
ing twenty.four, and afterwards in brine
for the same length OF time. After this
they arc sprinkled with saltpetrc and
coarse sal, aud allowed to lie for seven
days. For another seven days they are
packed bodily in salt. After this pre-
liminary treatment they arc washed in
clean cold water, hung up to drain for
twenty-four hours, and then MI moist
nro removed with cloth. Fine ground
alum is then rubbed over and upon
them, and paper made pliablc by soRk-
ing in alum water is closely pressed
upon them, forming n close, and it Is
claimed, practically impervious cover
ing, to exclude the air. But II is doubt
full If this paper covering will serve rs
good purpose ms that formedo OF melted
parafllne, and used with fair results in
preserving fresh beef from rapid decay
by keeping it away from the contact Of
the atmosphere.
Preserving Eggs.
A Wisconsin housekeeper has pre-.
served eggs fresh from fall to spring BY
the following recipe: "TAke a piece Of
tough, pliAble paper, five or six inches
square. Wrap IL cornerwise around the
egg, and twist the paper protruding at
each end Of the egg firmly in place.
Let the paper be large enough to cover.
the egg entirely, pack in tub or box,
small end down, and keep in cool
place" The secret OF keeping eggs
seems to consist in excluding the mir
from them, and in standing them on the
little end down, so that the yolk cannot
adhere TO the shell. OF course eggs
should be packed when perfectly fresh,
for change onco begun cannot be Or.
rested.
Feeding Cows.
/ do not think, snys correspondent,
/ ever kept my cows and horses 10 eco.
nomically as duringth pAstwinter. And
the COWS have been fed principally on
cut corn-stalks, with little bran and
corn-meal. ] drill in my corn and last
year / not only had good crop OF corn,
but also a large growth Of stalks. t
think this better plan than raising
corn fodder alone. Drill in the corn in
rows 81 feet apart, and put on about us
much again seed as you would il plant.
cd in hills; and il the land is rich
enough you are pretty sure or good
crop Of fodder, and stand fair chance
OF getting good crop Of corn. This,