The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-10-04
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
A Remedy for Mites.


/ would like the readers of the Cult
vdtor to know how | succeeded in get
ting rid of that dreadful foe to South
ern poultry-mites, which had been a
terror to me for years. / am firm
believer in white-wash and cleanliness,
but these alone will not keep off mites.
Neither will these old ''chestnuts,"
sulphur, carbolic acid and tobacco
avail any thing. The remedy is quite
simple, and the only agents required
are energy, perseverance and boiling
water. 1t is necessary to begin early,
before the mites have commenced to
hatch out their millions of torments.
l commenced in january, and one day
in every week thoroughly cleaned
the fowl house, taking out the
old straw in the nest-boxes and
burning it, scalding with boil
ing water the sides of the house,
roosting poles and nest-boxes, which
must be separate to reach the vermin
with hot water. After placing nice
clean hay in the nests, if there are
setting hens, their eggs are wiped off
with cloth dipped in warm water,
taking care to put them in q nest-box
occupying the exact place in the house
they did before. My setting hens en-
Joy the fresh, clean nests given them
once week. With the assistance of
a small boy can in one hour clean my
fowl house in this way, and to poultry
raisers who think this too much
trouble / will say that it is just as
easy, cleaner, cheaper and more
effectual than kerosene. For two years
/ have been free from these pests.
and have hens setting every month
in the year. / raise a great many
chickens, besides nice aoclks of turkeys,
guineas and peafowls. The only foes
have to contend with are the two
pirates. hawks and "cuffee," and |
often wish that it were possible to
boiling water. In April / received
clutch of fine eggs, and having no
broody hen, rented one of negro
woman. For fear of vermin / placed
her in secluded spot some distance
from my fowl-house. She took the
nest so nicely that did not go near
her till next cleaning day, when
| discovered that she was literally
covered with mites. l put her hen
ship in a coop till / could scald
her quarters, then conveyed her to
the nearest dust and ash pile that had
been under q blazing sun all day and
was pretty warm. After throwing this
hot fine dust among her feathers, l
buried her body in it. repeated this
several times, shaking the dust out of
her feathers after each performance,
then placed her on a clean nest. In a
few days went back and examined
her and could not discover a single
mite, but to make sure repeated the
experiment / had no more trouble
with her. After she had Matched a
nice brood of chickens, | examined her
nest carefully, but could not discover a
mite. A few weeks ago a friend
of mine who had been greatly
troubled with mites, tried this on her
small flock. After cooping her entire
flock she thoroughly scalded their
premises and gave each one a good
dust bath. In a week she repeated it,
and she says that the vermin vanished
like magic. Sisters, try this plan and
you will be blessed with healthful
fowls. Some of the brothers will read
this simple remedy with scorn and go
on with masculine stupidity to use
tobacco stems, sulphur and such stuff
in the nests to prevent vermin. One
of them declared, openly and above
board, that hot water would not kill
mites. Mistaken, brother! Try it
right and it will kill every whack. -
Farmers Wife, in Southern CxItivator.