The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-23

Enclosed with the letter was a speci-
al bulletin on the horn fly written and
published by G. v. Riley and l.. o.
Howard Of the Department OF Entomo-
logy, from which the following inter-
esting extracts are taken:
"History-The pest first appeared in the
United States In September. 1887. on the
ranch Of ]. ". Nicholson at Camden. N.
J. 1t Ii believed to have been imported
from Holstein. In less than two years the
fly made its appearance In several dis
tricts farther south. extending into Mary
land and Virginia. The names Texas
gives the Impression that the fly came
from the West, which Is entirely err
roniOus.
"The most prominent Of the popular err
rors Is the belief that the fly damages
the horn, eats into the substance. causes
II to rot, and even lays eggs In 1t which
hatch into maggots and penetrate to the
brain. There Is no foundation for this
belief The flies congregate on the bases
OF the horns only to rest where they are
not liable to be disturbed. Where they
have been clustering thickly on the horns
the latter become fyspeeked AND appear
at a little distance as though they might
be damaged. and II is doubtless this fact
that has given rise to the ERRONEOUS
opinions cited.
1.-The results, therefore, Indicate that
the eggs are deposited during daylight.
chiefly during the warmer time OF the
day, between and T. and mainly between
In the morning and noon. They are laid
singly, and never In clusters, and usual
" on their sides on the surface of the wet
manure; seldom inserted In cracks.
''The amount Of damage done by the
fly has been exaggerated by some and
overestimated by others. We have heard
many rumors of the death OF animals
from it's attacks, but have been unable to
substantiate a single case. We believe
that the flies alone will never cause the
death OF an animal. They reduce the
condition Of stock to a considerable ex-
tent, and in the case of milch cows the
yield Of milk " reduced from one-fourth
to one-half. It is our opinion that their
bites seldom even produce sores by them
selves, although we have seen number
of cases Of where large sores had been
made by the cattle rubbing themselves
to allay the irritation caused by, the
bites; or, In spots where they could not
rub. by licking constantly with the tongue
as about the bag and on the inside OF the
way will increase with the continued IT.
ritatiOn by the flies and will be dihicuit
to heal. Those who underestimate the
damage believe that the flies do not suck
blood, but such persons have doubtless
watched the flies only upon the horns or
elsewhere in their resting position when
the beak is not inserted, or have caught
them and crushed them when their bodies
suck considerable blood, and 1t L. their
only nourishment: IL captured and
crushed at the right time the most skep'
tical indi vidual will be convinced.
'Remedies-Almost any greasy sun
stance will keep the flies away Tor sew
erai DAYS. A number OF experiments were
tried in the field with the result INA, ina,
train-oil alone. and train-oil with itus
sulphur or carbolic acid added, Will keeI
the files away for from five. to six days
while with a small proportion OF car
bolic acid II will have healing enec
upon sores which may have formed
Train-oil should not cost more than % .
rs cents per gallon. and gallon VIII an
noint a number OF animals. Commoi!
axle grease. costing 10 cents per box. WI
answer nearly as well. and this suostanS
has been extensively and successfuli
used by Mr.. william johnson. larE
stock dealer at Warrenton, Va. TalloS
has also been used to good advantage
The practice OF smearing the horns wit
pine or coal-tar simply repels them froI
these parts. Train-oil or fish oil seems I
he more lasting In its effects than an
other OF the substances used"