The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-17
ABOLISH MOSQUITO PLAGUE
 BY DRAINING SALT MARSHES

Would you like to know how to reduce or entirely abolish mosquitoes from the coast region of Connecticut? :? If so, send to the Agricultural Ex- pertinent Station, New Haven, Conn. for a copy of Bulletin 173, entitled t'The Mosquito Plague of the Connec- ticut Coast Region and How to Con- tAoi It. which has just been issued. It will be sent free on request as long as the supply lasts.
 The publication deals with the kinds of mosquitoes that breed along present condition of the salt marshes and how to abolish mosquitoes and |at the same time improve the land. The following is a summary of the bulletin:-
 The mosquito plague of Southern Connecticut is composed chiefly of two species of salt marsh mosquitoes the brown salt marsh mosquito, Culex cantator O., and the banded salt marsh mosquito, Culex sollicitans Walk, which breed in the brackish stagnant pools of the salt marshes and fly inland several miles in search of their food, viz. the blood of the higher animals.
 The rain barrel mosquito Cu1ex pipiens Lnn. breeds in rain water barrels, tin cans and other receptacles along the shore, and certain other species of Culex, as we'll as the ma larial mosquito, Anopheles, may breed in the fresh water pools next to the highland, yet these are all local, fly only short distances and form only a small part of the mosquito plague of the coast regfon.
 The salt marsh region of Connecti- cut contains 34.79 square miles, or 22,264 acres more than half of which has in past years been drained for salt hay farming. During recent years the marshes have received lit- tie attention, the ditches have be- come filled and probably breed more mosquitoes than they did thirty or forty years ago.
 . The conditions are such. as to check the proper and natural development of the Connecticut coast region as a duces little, and is unprofitable, yet taxes are collected upon it.
 Tide gates in proper working con dition, will. keep tide water from flow ing over the marsh but do not pre- vent the fresh water entering the marsh from the highland. This must escape to the ocean and draining is Narrow deep ditches are much more permanent than broad shallow ones. The lateral ditches should be not more than ten inches wide and from z4 10 4O inches deep, and placed from 100 to 15O feet apart, running parallel with each other, and nearly at right angles to the main stream or the broad central ditch.
 The cost of draining the Connecti- cut marshes will vary, but may be done by contract at from $5 to $1O per acre, and should not average more than $S. The entire salt marsh area of Connecticut can be drained for less than, $20O,0OO.
 The increase in yield of salt marsh hay will soon pay the cost of drain ing and may do so in a single season.
 Mosquito wriglers may De killed by oiling the breeding pools, but this should be considered as only a tenn porary measure and should not be ad- vocated in place of draining.
 The methods of draining and oiling are shown on the plates, and describ- ed in detail on the pages of this bull letin. Cooperation of individuals and communities are necessary for successl,sl results in this work and many towns and communities have taken 1t up. Legislation, however, is needed, and Statewide movement with some State supervision would seem to be the best solution of the problem.