The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-08-04
Cows and Flies.

The close observer will note that no
matter how fresh and verdant the past
ures may remain as the month of June
merges into July the COWS are sure to
slacken up in their supply of milk The
weather may be cooler and the pastures
even better in July than in June, and
yet the same shortage of milk will be
observed. af
The trouble arises from the following
cause: There are, comparatively speak
ing, only few flies able to live through
the winter, which they do by hyberna-
ting between old boards and under
shingles and in locks, or other places of
protection. As the weather warns up
In spring they come forth and begin to
deposit their eggs in manure heaps, or
other places supplying sufficient heat
to hatch out the young. Then, in the
process of nature, these young soon be-
gin to lay eggs, and thus reproduce
themselves. Thus, the increase goes
rapidly on, and by the latter part of
June, if the weather has been at all
favorable, the full supply of flies is on
hand. 1t is then the cows trouble be-
gins. II at pasture she is sure to occupy
about one-third of her time in fight
ing these malicious little animals.
Then much of her time is apt
to be spent standing in the shade of
trees or among bushes to keep off. the
flies, or, what Is still worse, if she can
find pond of water deep enough to
cover her legs. and especially with the
cool shade of a large tree over it, this
will be a afavorite retreat for the greater
part of all the hot days, to the evident
loss Of the dairyman, for it should be
remembered that it is cows duty to
eat as continuously as possible, with
only spare time enough to chew the
cud and take the necessary rest by
sleep, While it is, of course, a pleas.
ure to the cow to eat grass, and she
consequently takes kindly to it, yet
when tortured by flies she is only toe
willing to deny herself the qualification
Of full stomach. 70 prevent this
idliDg away of valuable time some
dairymen cut down all the shade trees
in the pasture and keep only running
water for the COWS to drink.
1t is a great pity that some cute Yam.
kee has not been able to discover some
kind of iniment or other application
| by which a cows legs and sides could
be annointed and thus repel the attacks
of these little tormentors, for undoubt.
| CoAJ bLC huGC HiOuO VI buCiE UlI6s
materially affects the cows yield. Ir
the absence of any such simple remedy,
the practice In different countries varies
for protecting the COWS. In Holland 9
white sheet is fitted to the cows back
| like the sheet used for horses, but this
will only do for cows that are tethered
.or watched. A lot of our native cow,
IN the field would make short work oi
| such a protection with their horns.
When COWS are kept in tho stable
during the heat of the day, which is 9
good plan when it can be done, the best
remedy against flies is to keep the stable
very dark. To accomplish this dark
,olored curtains may be hung in the
| place of doors, and the cows soon learn
TO pass through them, the curtains be-
ing split in the middle. The flies are
swept off by the curtains, and remain
outside, where they find the light anG
sunshine more inviting than the dark.
ness within.
Cows suffer most from the bites they
receive on the legs just above the feet
It looks feasible to make a shield of thir
rubber or other elastic material to cover
the leg from the knee or gambrel join
10 the foot SO that the cows in the fielC
oould wear them. The foot being sc
much larger than the leg the shield
would not slip off. A stiff waterproof
paper held on with rubber bands NIGH
answer. We throw out this hint for som,
future inventor to make a fortune by.
Deposits of damp manure near stables
are prolific sources of fly. breeding, anC
where this can be avoided it should b,
done. Scattering air slaked lime abou
tends to destroy the larv@ of this insec
as well as keep the air pure and whole
some. All remedies and prevention
that ran be practiced should be, as the.
go long way toward helping on tn,
milk supply Just at the time when. it j
most needed.-Anericdn DGfrynaan.
About 1000. 600. 900 pins are mad