The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-06
Cows and Flies.

Ane ciOSe observer Will note that nc
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. ia q" HOa' V' ). 2 Hu'' !
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 andin locks, OF 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 aA
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
ING unese 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, il she can
| find q pond of water deep enough to
cover her legs, and especially with the
cool shade of a large tree over it, this
will be favorite 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 a 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, pleas
ure to the cow to eat grass, and she
consequently takes kindly to it, yet
when tortured by flies she is only too
willing to deny herself the qualification
of a full stomach. To prevent this
idling 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 great pity that some cute Yam
kee has not been able to discover some
kind of .liniment or other application
by which a cows legs and sides, could
be annointed and thus repel the attacks
of these little tormentors, for undoubt-
edly the annoyance alone of their bites
materially affects the cows yield. In
the absence of any such simple remedy,
the practice in different countries varies
for protecting the cows. In Holland
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 COWS
in the field would make short work OF
such protection with their horns.
I When COWS are kept in the stable
during the heat of the day, which lisa
good plan, when it can be done, the best
remedy against flies is tokeepthe stable
very dark. To accomplish this DARK
colored, 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 and
sunshine more inviting than the dark
ness within.
= Cows suffer most from the bites they
receive. on the legs Just above the feet.
1t looks feasible to make shield ofthln
rubber or other elastic material to cover
the leg from the knee or. gambrel JOINT
to the foot so that the COWS in the field
could wear them. The foot being 50
much larger than the eleg the shield
would not slip of. A stiff waterproof
paper held on with rubber bands might
answer. We throw out this hint for some
future inventors to make fortune by.
Deposits of damp manurenear stables
are prolific sources of fly breeding. ana
where this can be avoided it should DC
done. Scattering air slaked lime abou.
tends TO destroy the Larvae of this insec'
as well as keep the air pure and whole,
some. All remedies and prevention,
that rap be practiced should be, as they
go a long way toward helping on tn y
milk supply just at the time when IL Is
most needed.--A8serican Dairyn'G"' E"