The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-07-23
DORAx ! TO ELIMINATE FLIES
Many Experiments Made by the Gov
eminent officials Show the Value of
Simple Measure to Rid People of
Disease Bearing Insects.

AS a result OF experiments, the Spe-
cialists of the department of agricul-
ture of the United States government
have discovered that 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
to garbage, refuse, open toilets, damp
floors and crevices in stables, cellars
or markets, will prevent fly eggs from
Matching. Borax will not kill the adult
lily nor prevent il from laying eggs,
but its thorough use will prevent any
further breeding.
The Investigation, which included ex-
periments with many substances, was
undertaken to, discover some means of
preventing the sbreeding of flies in horse
manure without lessening the value of
this manure as fertilizer for use by
the farmer. It was felt that if some
means of preventing 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 fly
campaign, - traps and other devises for
reducing the number of typhoid carry
| ing flies are of value, they are of less
| Importance than the prevention of the
breeding. 1t was realized, however,
that no measure for preventing the
breeding of flies would come into COM
mon use unless it was such that the
farmer could use it on his manure pile
without destroying its usefulness for
growing plants, and without introduc-
| ing into the soil any substance that
would interfere with his crops.
| AS result Of experiments carried on
at the Arlington farm, in Virginia, and
New Orleans, La, the Investigators
found that 0.62 of a pound of borax,
or 0.75 of a pound of calcined cole
mantle (crude calcium borate) would
kill the maggots and prevent practic-
| ally all of the flies ordinarily breeding
in eight bushels of horse manure from
developing This was proved by plac
ing manure in cages and comparing the
results from piles treated with borax
and from untreated piles. The borax,
it was found, killed the fly eggs and
maggots in the manure and prevented
their growth into flies.
Tn the case Of garbage cans or refuse
4 piles, two ounces of borax or calcined
colemanite, costing from 5 cents a lb.
upward, according to the quantity
which is purchased, will effectually pre-
vent flies from breeding.
While it can be safely stated that
no injurious action has followed the
application of manure treated with bo-
rax at the rate Of so pounds for eight
bushels or even larger amounts in the
case of some plants, nevertheless borax
treated manure has not been studied
in connection with The growth of all
crops, nor has it's cumulative effect been
determined. 1t is therefore recon-
mended that not more than 10 tons of
| the borax- treated manure should be APP
piled per acre to the field. AS truck
growers use considerably more than
this amount, it is suggested that all
cars containing borax-treated manure
be so marked, and that public health
officials stipulate in their directions for
/ this treatment that not over so CO.,
1907 of a pound for bushels of man
lure be used, as it has been shown that
larger amounts of borax will iniure
most plants. 1t is also recommended
that all public nealth officials and 9th
ers in recommending borax treatmest
for killing fly eggs and maggots in man.
ure warn the public against the injur-
ious effects of large amounts of borax
on the growth of plants. Purchasers
of manure produced in cities during
the y-breeding season should insist
that the dealers from whom they pur-
chase give them certified statement
as to whether or not the manure in the
particular car or lot involved in the
purchase has been treated with borax.
In feeding to hogs garbage that con-
tains borax care is also recommended
especially when the animals are being
fattened for market. porax is not
very poisonous substance ana tie feed
ing of garbage that contains it to hogs,
IS not likely to be a serious matter.
On the other hand borax in large guam
titles does produce gastric disturbances
and for this reason certain amount
o. care iG advisable.
The method for using this substance
in the case Of stables is 70 sprinkle
the borax or colemanite in the quaint
ties given above, by means of flour
sitter or other fine sieve, around the
outer edges of the pile of horse manure.
i The manure should then be sprinkled
Immediately with two or three gallons
OF water to eight bushels of manure.
1t is essential, however, to sprinkle
little of tn borax on the manure as it
IS added daily to the pile, instead of
waiting until full pile is obtained be-
cause this will prevent the eggs which