The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-08-06
TO PREVENT FLIES BREEDING
New and Safe Method of Destroying
the Larvae Discovered.

Prepared by United States department
OF agricultural
A safe and effective weapon against
the typhoid or housefy has been found
in powdered hellebore by scientists Of
the department of agriculture. Flies
lay their eggs chiefly in stable manure.
Powdered hellebore mixed with water
and sprinkled over the manure will de-
stroy the larvae which are Matched
from the eggs. Since powdered helle-
bore is readily obtainable this puts In
the hands of everyone a remedy for
one Of the pests that has been found
dangerous as well as troublesome.
Powdered hellebore, however, will not
kill adult flies, which must be swatted
or trapped.
1t has long been known that flies
breed in manure, bur previous meth
DDS Of destroying the larvae there by
the use Of strong chemicals have been
open to the objection that the treat
ment under some conditions lessened
the fertiliZing value Of the manure or
actually injured vegetation. This IS
not true of powdered hellebore. Gov
eminent experiments have shown that
the hellebore is entirely decomposed in
the course of the fermentation of the
manure and that even in excessive
quantities it does no harm except to
the larvae it is intended to destroy.
Chickens picking in manure treated
with it suffer no ill effects.
One-half pound of powdered helle-
bore mixed with ten gallons Of water
is sufficient to kill the larvae in eight
bushels or ten cubic feet of manure.
The mixture should be sprinkled care
fully over the pile, especial attention
being paid to the outer edges. In most
places hellebore is obtainable in 100
pound lots at a cost of II cents pound
This makes the cost of the treatment
Il little less than seven-tenths of
cent per bushel of manure. 4 liberal
estimate of the output of manure is
two bushels day per horse. The mon
ey involved is therefore tritling in CON-
parison with the benefits to the indi-
vidual and the community from the
plaNtiNai VI Tic ulSeuSt
spreading fly.
Although fresh manure is the favor
ite breeding spot flies lay their eggs
in other places as well, such as out
houses. refuse piles, etc. In these
places, from which no manure is taken
to spread on the fields, considerable
saving may be effected through the
substitution of borax for powdered bel.
lebore. Applied at the rate of 0.62
pounds per bushels of manure borax
is as effective as powdered hellebore
iii killing the larvae. but costs less
than half a cent for each bushel of
manure treated. In larger quantities.
however, or when the manure itself is
spread at greater rate than Is tons
to the acre, some damage to crops may
result. Large quantities Of manure
are often used by market gardeners
and others, and there is always danger
of carelessness in, applying the borax.
The use of the more expensive but
mended for the treatment Of manure.
Borax is recommended for all other
refuse in which flies may lay eggs.
Scientists who have been working
for years to eliminate the fly are con-
WINGED that the use Of one or the other
of these simple measures is a public
duty wherever manure and refuse ex
list. Sanitarians. however. strongly
advise the removal Of refuse heaps or
other unnecessary rubbish or breeding
places for flies. In breeding places
which cannot be thus disposed of. such
as manure or stables. the daily use Of
powdered hellebore will keep the flies
from breeding in these favorite breed
ing grounds. The best results are OBJ
in community where every
one cleans up his premises. traps or
kills the flies and Systematically treats
the manure and other breeding places
with powdered hellebore.
The fly is not only nuisance to hui
man beings and live stock, but spreads
disease and filth and is menace to
public health which cannot be tolerat-
ed in the face Of a demonstrated
remedy.