Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-07-01
GOVERNMENT REPORT
ON THE HOUSE FLY


safe and effective weapon against the
typhoid or house fly 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
destroy the larave which are hatched
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 we'll as troublesome.
Powdered helebore, however, will not
kill adult flies which must be swat
ted or trapped.
1t has long been known that flies
breed in manure but 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 helebore. Gov.
ernment experiments have shown that
the helebore is entirely decomposed
in the course of the fermentation of
the manure and that even in exces-
sive quantities it does not harm eX-
cept to the larvae it is intended 10
destroy. Chickens picking in manure
treated with it suffer no i'll effects.
ho1
bore mixed with 10 gallons Of water is
sufficient to kill the larvae in bush
els, or 10 cubic feet of manure. The
mixture should be sprinkled carefully
over the pile, especial attention be.
ing paid to the outer edges. In most
places helebore is obtainable in 100
pound lots at a cost of II cents
pound. This makes the cost of the
treatment a little less than seven.
tenths of cent per bushel of ma
nure. A liberal estimate of the out
put of manure Is two bushels a day
per horse. The money involved is,
therefore, trifling in comparison with
the benefits to the individual and the
community from the practical elimi-
nation of the disease-spreading ly.
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 TAX
en- to spread on the fields, consider
able saving may be effected through
the substitution of borax for powd-
cred hellebore. Applied at the rate of
0.62 pounds per bushels of manure,
boraX is as effective as powdered
helebore in killing the larvae but costs
less than half a cent for each bushel
Of manure treated. In larger quanti-
ties, however, or when the manure
itself is spread at a 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 carlessness in ap-
plying the borax. The use of the more
expensive but safer helleboTe is there
fore recommended 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-
vinced that the use of one or the 9th.
er of these simple measures is a pub
lie duty wherever manure and refuse
exist. Sanitarians, however, strongly
advise the removal of refuse heaps
or other unnecessary rubbish or breed
ing places for flies. In breeding plac.
es 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
are obtainable in community where
everyone cleans up his premises, traps
or kills the flies, and systematically
treats the manure and other breeding
places with powdered helebore.
The fly is not only nuisance 10
human beings and live stock; it,
spreads disease and filth and is n men.
ace to public health which cannot be
tolerated in the face Of demonstrated
remedy. Details of the experiments
with other information on the subject
are contained in professional paper,
Bulletin 245 of the United States De.
partment of Agriculture.
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