The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-04-02
A Fly Mandatory.

capital, and are running the works to
their full capacity.
Flies are incubated from eggs, by
an artificial Matching arrangement,
and the young flies are taught all the
deviltry they know right in the fac
tory. Some will look upon this state
ment as false, and wonder why any
association of men should engage in
the artificial propagation of the fly.
We will explain. 1t is we'll known
that flies die at the end of the season,
and if 1t were not for artificial propa-
CATION there would be none the sec
ond season. The parties that are
engaged in this industry are also sole
manufacturers of fly paper and fly
traps. We trust that the object is
now plain. In order to sell their
paper and traps it is necessary to
have game to catch. The gentlemen
had engaged largely in the manutac-
ture OF fly paper and fly traps before
they knew that flies only lasted one
season, and after a year of success
| they found bankruptcy staring them
in the face, as it was probable they
would not sell sheet of paper the
next year. So they organized the
"Great American Artificial Fly In
cubating Association of New Jer-
sey," and issued a million dollars
worth of stock.
| We have not room to describe the
Matching of flies, in the San, but it is
like Matching chickens by steam.
| Some of the best old flies are kept to
lay eggs, and eggs are placed on
cards and put into all oven. They
hatch out in twenty minutes, and are
ready in half AL hour to learn the
business. First they are taught to
wade in butter, to swim in cream,
and to get into things around the
kitchen. Then the young flies are
taken to the dormitorY, where men
and women, engaged for the purpose,
are pretending to sleep. An old fly
and hundred young ones are placed
in each room, and the old fly, after
lighting on shirt bosoms or female
white goods, in order to teach the
young flies the noble art of punctua-
ton, begins to get in It's work on the
sleeper. The old fly, after seating
the young flies on cuffs and collars,
calls Attention and, after buzzing
around little. lights ON the sleeper's
mad, and slaps at the fy-this is a
mere matter OF form, however, for if
a sleeper engaged by the association
kills an old stool fly, it is deducted
from his or her salary. AS the old
fly gets away the young flies laugh
and want to try it themselves. Then
the old fly lights upon the lady
sieeper's big toe, and proceeds de-
liberately to walk up her foot, ankle,
and calf, occasionally stopping to
bite. This is very trying to the al.
legged sleepers, causing nervousness
and twitching of the muscles; but
they must not injure the fly. The
little flies notice everything, and,
after the old fly has caroused around,
and tickled and buzzed, then the
young flies are allowed to practice on
them. The persons practised on get
six dollars day and hoard, as 1t is a
very particular and trying situation.
Then comes the expensive business
of distributing flies throughout the
country Formerly it was done
through book agents and lightning
rod peddlers, but that was found too
expensive, SO the association orioi
mated the idea of sending out regular
agents, called tramps, to introduce
the flies. The first year only about
10000 tramps were sent out, but the
business has grown to such huge pro.
portions that 1t is estimated that this
year the association has out half a
million tramps, leaving flies around.
They go from house to house beg.
ging, and before they leave they
manage to drop a few flies. Each
tramp has card with million young
lies on. After he has partaken of
-his meal, and the woman of the house
out after a shotgun or dog to
1--WE him away, he slips his hand up |
sleeve and tears off o piece Of |
d, containing perhaps 10000 |
m ing flies, and drops it in the wood
70 or in some convenient place.
!" q is enough to start on, as the
D. Mbreed rapidly. The next day
ns S":oman will wonder "where on
'e' Anl them flies come from"
y i, company has distributing
Is =. Pun Il over the country, Chicago,
TX HS rs, st. Paul being among