Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-09-20
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
A Remedy for Mites.

] would like the readers of the Guilt
GATOR 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. l am a firm
believer in white-wash and cleanliness,
but these alone will not keep off mites.
Neither will these old "chestnuts,n
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 a 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
small boy can in one hour clean my
fowl house in this way, and to poultry
raisers who think this too much
trouble l 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 great many
chickens, besides nice flocks 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
reach them with the same element
boiling water. In April | received a
clutch of fine eggs, and having nc
broody. hen, rented one of a negro
woman. For fear of vermin | placed
her in secluded spot some distance
from my fowl-house. She took the
nest so nicely that l did not go neal
her till next cleaning day, wher
| discovered that she was literally
covered with mites. put her hen
ship in coop till l could scale
her quarters, then conveyed her tt
the nearest dust and ash pile that hat
been under blazing sun oil day ant
was pretty warm. After throwing this
hot fine dust among her feathers,
buried her body in it. repeated thi'
several times, shaking the dust out O
her feathers after each performance
then placed her ON clean nest. In ;
few days | went back and examined
her and could not discover single
mite, but to make sure repeated thu
experiment. | had no more trouble
with her. After she had Matched {
nice brood of chickens, examined he
nest carefully, but could not discover {
mite. A few weeks ago frient
of mine who had been greatly
troubled with mites, tried this on he
small flock. After cooping her entir
flock she thoroughly scalded thei
premises and gave each one goo,
dust bath. In week she repeated il
and she says that the vermin vanishe
like magic. Sisters, try this plan an
you will be blessed with healthfu
fowls. Some of the brothers will rea
this simple remedy with scorn and g
on with masculine stupidity to us
tobacco stems, sulphur and such stu
in the nests to prevent vermin. On
Of them declared, openly and abov
board, that hot water would not XII
mites. Mistaken, brother! Try
right and it will kill every whack.-
farmers Wife, IN Southern CultiUato'