The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-08-22
Waynesboro Items.
REPORTED for the vIRGINIAN.l

Reported for the VIRGINIAN.]
An alarm has been occasioned through
out this section by the appearance of
what is known as the ''Texas fly" "Buf-
falo fly" and Horn fly The latter
name, being doubtless given, because
they congregate near the base of the
horns, and there feed upon the blood OF
the animal Previous to 1887 little was
known Of the species. None were to be
found in collections. Since which time
they have been scientifically studied,
and, to some extent at least, the alarm
occasioned by their presence, when they
made their first appearance in Pennsyl-
vania and spreading thence the same
year to New Jersey and New York.
1t was thought the belief is current
among our cattle men-that these flies
burrow holes at the base of the horn
and that a grub is formed which works
it's way into the head, and the ami
NAL dies. Such is not the case, and here
we quote from Prof. John B. Smiths,
of Rutgers College, able article in the
Country Gentlemen, of August sth:
sTHE INJURY CAUsED.-When many
of these flies are at the cattle, of course
the pain caused by the poisoned pune
lures is almost incessant; the cattle throw
their heads about, stamp, lash their
tails and in every way try to get rid of
their tormentors These, on the other
hand, congregate at those points where
they cannot be easily reached, and the
cattle are left in state of constant ex
citement. The COWS, kept in constant
state of annoyance, become poor, and
fall off in milk; secondarily, the COW to
get rid of the pest on her horns, and to
allay the itching of the punctures at the
base will rub her head and horns against
ANYTHING, to scratch, and inflammation
of even severe character may result
possibly to the loss of one or both horns.
There is no such thing as a bu7roaOzng
into the skin, either by larva or image,
but the facts, as have detailed them,
are bad enough, since the result is the
same, even if common observation has
mistaken the actual cause"
Tar, fish oil, paint, &C., have been
tried. These operate as repellants; but
unfortunately soon lose their efficacy
Prof. Smith narrates in detail his ex-
periments to find a remedy. TX. o.
Dust proved efficacious. "a prelimi-
nary test of X. o. Dust showed no arse
mic or mineral poison, but showed to-
bacco and carbolic acid with an inorganic
mixture of undetermined non-poisonous
substance. 1t is therefore safe to say,
that it will not prove injurious to cattle
even if they lick it. 1t should be rather
thoroughly applied, so as to get the hair
well busted. No stonaorys Or hornaotoblo
can stand this long enough to puncture
the skin of the cattle. 1t would mean
death to them The powder does not
lose strength by exposure. \.
O. Dust is manufactured in Baltimore,
Md, by the Insecticide Mfg. Co., 10 E.
Camden st.
In addition to the use of the tobacco
powders-fnely ground refuse tobacco
may answer as WE'LL should recon-
mend clean stables, and the free use of
chlorinated lime on manure heaps and
about the barn yard. This will kill off
many of the larvae and considerably re-
duce the number of the flies"
The Leonards. Coiners, Geo. Freed,
Harnsberger Bros, and others are look
ing after their cattle in the South noun
tain Many of the cattle are badly at
fected, and it is feared much injury has:
already been done, as no one anticipated
the invasion. All owners of cattle will
do well to examine their stock at once.
THOMAS.