The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-15
The Plague of Flies and Other In
HeCtN.

They were never more of a plague
in this section than they are this year.
Millions and millions of them, 1t
seems, about the house, despite the ut
most cleanliness.
What a fight we have made against
theml We fought them with infantry,
artillery and cavalry. Fly paper was
the infantry, pyrethrum or insect pow
der was the cavalry and wire fly traps
the artillery, all in action at the same
time. There was certainly a wholesale
destruction of this offensive little in
sect, but the cry is still they come.
Despite all the measures used the flies
are still troublesome. 1t seems as if
little has been accomplished. 1t might
have been much worse If the heaping
peck of flies that have been destroyed
in the past two weeks had been left
undisturbed. 1t might have been al
most uncomfortable.
Fresh pyrethrum properly used is
about the most practical and most eco
nomical remedy against the flies and
other insects that infest the house. An
ounce of the pure, fresh article thrown
upward in a closed room will destroy
every insect that infests the room at
any given time. 1t is death to flies,
fleas, mosquitoes, reaches, etc, that
any particle of the dust touches. Next
to the fly powder we prefer the little
wire traps. costing a dollar a dozen,
and each trap having a capacity of a
pint of dead flies before the need for
emptying. With proper bait one or two
traps in a room will keep it reasonably
free of flies. They should be emptied
at least once day.
Fly paper is more or less effective in
Kidding dining room or kitchen of
flies. It's use is somewhat objectiona-
BILE. Gusts of wind oftentimes turn
the paper over and this makes it some
what offensive.
There are other insect pests besides
flies and the careful housekeeper will
seek thir destruction always.
For Cockroaches there Is nothing
more effective perhaps than borax.
This should be finely pulverized and
scattered freely wherever this often
sive insect may find hiding place.
A cheaper and even better thing for
destroying flies is a mixture of finely
powdered black pepper, half a tea
spoonful, one teaspoonful of brown
SuSdi diu iOllC VI NlCdihs NhiA NhCSC
well together and spread the mixture
on saucers or small plates and place
here and there about the house. The
flies will soon disappear.
Hot alum water is a cheap and good
remedy for many insects. Put an ounce
or so of alum into a half gallon of
boiling water and dissolve it. With a
mop or brush saturate all cracks, cor
ners and any place where ants, bed
bugs, cockroaches, etc, may seek a
hiding place.
Bedbugs and other insects may be de-
stroyed or expelled from a room by
taking a shovel of live Goals and put
ting a spoonful or two of birthstone or
sulphur on them and then placing the
same under the bed. Close the. room
as tight as possible and let the fumes
permeate every crack and crevice of
the room. Air the room before sleep
ing in it.
With a little expense and patience
it is possible to get rid of most of the
insects that initiate against comfoct.
In the dwelling. in the outhouses, in
the field, in the garden and in the
orchards it is a fight with insects of
one kind or another. Fortunate is he
who fairly succeeds in contending with
them. This contest is imperative.
Every one should do his share of it
and in due season.