Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-17
HIRAM WOULDN'T FORGET.
His wife Gave Hin . Genuine Dose Of
flyscrsepa

Uis Wife Gave Hin . Genuine Dose OF
fiyscrsepa
1t was half past o'clock in the morn
sng and Mr.. Hisinbotham rolled IN
easily in bis matutinsl nap. aud made
futile efforts To keep the sheet over his
head. At intervals his unconscious
hands made wild slaps through the clear
morning air. and he would give utter
ancs TO expressions not fit for publica-
ton. Mrs. Higinbotham. in cool
morning gown. sat at the open window
reading.
Hiram" shs said, looking up from
her book. when she knew by an unusual
outburst Of emotion on his part that he
was awake. Hiram, did you know that
a common house fly lays four times dur
ing the summer season, each time an
average Of eighty eggs, which makes for
the seasons work $50 eggs?"
Hiram grunted and mumbled indis.
tinctly.
And" she went on calmly, "one-half
Of these are supposed to be females, 80
that each Of these four broods produce
forty. and tho frat eight, or forty
females Of the irst brood, also lay four
times in the course of the summer, max
ing la,S0o, and the FIRST eighth Of these
last. or 1900 females, lay three times,
making . setting Of SS4, 900; the second
eighth lay twice. making ESQ. 900. and
the third and fourth eighths lay at least
once or twice. making 256,ooo. Did you
know that, Hiram?"
Hiram gave vicious jerk to the sheet
and got his head clean out Of sight, and
. minute after he was kicking wildly
and trying to get the sheet down over
mis- feet and ankles.
and" she resumed again, ''the Sec
ond eighth. or the forty females Of the
second brood, lay three times and pro-
duce s.s00 eggs, and one-sixth OF these,
or !. 800 females. lay three times, or eggs
to the number of 8S4, 900, the second
sixth lay twice and produce ESQ, 900
eggs, and the third sixth lay once, pro-
ducing lss, 900 eggs"
Hiram yanked the sheet up and down
and ran his head under the pillow.
"D-nr"
hiram she exclaimed in shocked
tone.
Hiram only mumblsd.
"And, Hiram" she went on instruc-
lively. "the third eighth, or the forty
females Of the third brood, lay twice, or
eggs 70 the number Of 6.40o, and one
fourth Of these, or 1000, lay twice more,
making PSI. 900. and the fourth eighth,
or forty females Of the fourth brood.
have one laying period each, which pro-
duces eggs to the number Of $4,000, and
half these last. or 800 females, will lay
eighty eggs each. which make 12s, 900.
giving u, Hiram. a. q grand total prod
uct Of single pair Of flies in one sea-
son, 2,oso, 800. What do you think Of
that, HirsmS" she asked sweetly, ~ tho
fresh breeze blew . honeysuckle from
the trellised window and tangled Il Ia
her hair.
Hiram kicked the sheet out on the
middle Of the floor and rose wrathfully.
What do think Of ity' he exclaimed.
well, l think the figures are altogether
too small. or We began the ssason with
about forty pairs Of dies and the crop
was unusually heavy. That's what
think"
Then he put on his clothes, and at the
breakfast table his wife remarked gently:
II hope. Hiram you won't forget
again today TO send the man mp to put
the screens In the Window
And Hiram did not forget. Detroit
Yreo pyeSs