The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-08-14
DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
SAYS 5oRAx DESTROYS FLIES

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. tb.---As
result OF experiment, the special
lists OF the Department Of Agriculture
have discovered that a small amount
OF ordinary borax sprinkled daily on
manure, will effectively prevent the
breeding OF the typhoid or house fly
Similarly. the same substance applied
10 garbage. refuse, open toilets, damp
floors and creyices in stables, cellars
or markets, will prevent fly eggs from
Matching. Borax will not Kill the
adult fly nor prevent 1t from laying
eggs, but it's thorough use will pre-
vent any further breeding.
The Investigation, which included
experiments with many substances.
was undertaken to discover some
means OF preventing the breed OF flies
In horse manure without lessening
the value OF this manure as q fertili-
ger for use by the farmer. II was felt
that II some means ofprsventing the
breeding Of flies near human habitation
could be devised the Diseases spread
by these filthy germ carriers could be
greatly reduced. While the swat the
NY campaign traps and other devices
for reducing the number of typhoid
carrying flies are of value, they are of
Nss Importance than the prevention
tA.the breeding. 1t was realized how :
ever that no measure for preventing
the breeding OF flies would come Into
common use unless IL was such that
the farmer could use II on his manure
pile without destroying its usefulness
for growing plants and without intro
ducing into the soil any substance that
would interfere with his crops.
AZ n result of experiments carried
on at the Arlington Farm. in Virginia,
and New Orleans. La, the investiga-
tors found that 0.62 OF pound OF boz
rax, or OTIS OF a pound OF calcined
colemanlte (crude calcium borate)
would kin the maggots and prevent
practically all OF the flies ordinarily
breeding In bushels Of horse ma
nure from development This was
proved b. placing manure In cagen
and comparing the results from piles
treated with borax and from untreat-
ed piles. The borax. Il was found
killed the fly eggs and maggots in the
manure and prevented their growth
In to flies.
In the case OF garbage cans or ref
use piles, ounces Of boraN or call
cinsd. costing from 9 cents pound
upward, according to the quality
which Is purchased, Will effectually
prevent flies from breeding.
while II can be safely stated that
no Injurious action has followed the
application of manure treated with
borax at the rate OF .62 pounds for
bushels or even larger amounts In the
ease OF some plants nevertheless boz
rax- treated manure has not been stud
led in connection with the growth OF
all crops. nor has its cumulative effeci
been determined. II is therefore rec
commended that not more than 10 tons
OF the borax treated manure shoulo
be applied per acre to the field. As
truck growers use considerably more
than this amount, II is suggested thai
all cars containing bornx- treated ma
nure should be applied per acre e
the field AS truck growers use con
siderably more than this amount, II
is suggested that all cars containing
borax- treated manure be SO marked
and that public health officials stipu.
late In their directions for this treat
ment that not over 62 (62-O0O) of
pound for bushels of manure be used
as Il has been shown that larger
amounts of borax will injure mos
plants. 1t Is also recommended tina
all public health officials and others II
recommending borax treatment fol
killing fly eggs and maggots in manure
warn the public against the injurious
effects of large amounts of borax OF
the growth OF plants. Purchasers o
manure produced in cities during thu
breeding season should insist tina
the dealers from whom they purchase
give them a certified statement MS Z
whether or not the manure in the par
ticular car or lot involved in the pnr
chase has been treated with borax.
In feeding to hogs garbage that con