Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-15

The presence of lice, mites and flea,
Is not only troublesome, but these par
as1tes are responsible for a heavy deatI
rate; they turn profits into losses n
many otherwise wen-kept hocks. Hem
cease laying, they desert their hatch.
ing eggs, chicks are stunted and al
poultry Is weakened by vermin; wher
vitality is low fowls are subject to dis.
case. This article explains how to avoid
these losses.
Wnen disease appears in a poultry.
mans hock and his fowls are afflicted
ne Immediately organizes a campaign
10 combat 1t. When a hawk or crow,
rat or cat, carries off his chicks, he
lies awake at night evolving plans to
destroy the offender. He fights these
enemies vigorously, because they are
apparent or real.
But, unfortunately these apparent
chicken-killers do not constitute his
main foe. He has an enemy whose leg
IONS wage battle continuously, not op-
enly' but from under cover, and the
devastation is so widespread that
three-quarters of the chicks and ma
ture fowls that die an untimely death.
taIl during its attack. There are three
divisions of this greatest enemy of
poultry called external parasites,
working harmoniously to multiply
their forces at the expense of the host,
and these divisions are lice, mites and
meas. Let US first consider the general
plan or operations of these pests. then
study the tactics of the different mem
oers OF this triumvirate, and, by at
tacking their weaker offenses. over
come and finally annihilate them.
All forms Of parasites enjoy dark,
dirty insanitary poultry houses, and
nIthy nests and roosting quarters. Civ
en- SUCH breeding ground, their prop
agation can be carried on the fullest
extent. Hence, the first act of externi-
nation is to remove all nests, roosts,
and other fittings from the poultry
house and cleanse them thoroughly.
Take them outdoors, where you can
see and satisfy yourself that the in
secticide covers every portion of the
woodwork and fills every crevice. A
cheap effective insecticide that will kill
every parasite 1t touches, and the
fumes of which will tend to keep the
parasites away from places where it
Is used is made as follows:
Cheap, Effective Insecticide
kerosene (coal OLD l gallon.
Soal TAR ..........1 pint.
Melted lard ....... tablespoonful
Stir the melted lard in the kerosene
and add the coal tar. If the latter
pint of cresol or similar product, or
one-haf pint of crude carbolic acid,
Spray or paint the insecticide on the
httings removed from the house, and
then similarly treat the roost supports
and dropboard inside the house. BY
repeating monthly in warm weather.
and occasionally in winter, the devel.
opment OF mites and the spread of
lice and heaS will be materially redlic-
ed. Rake out the old litter used on the
moor OF the house. If the floor is earth,
spade and turn it to the depth of a
foot. Level, and cover the surface with
an inch of fine shore or river gravel
Many poultrymen unsuccessfully
battle against mites and fieas, through
using a poultry house built of rough
lum Der which has shrunken and warp
ed with age. The way to overcome this
difnculty is to cover the interior of
the house with heavy building paper
fastened on with laths. Do not put on
tar paper or roofing paper. because
when these are whitewashed, the tar
in the paper penetrates the whitewash
and turns 1t dirty brown. The object
of covering the interior of the house
with paper is to cover up all the cracks
and crevices where mites and feas can
multiply unmolested by any white
wash or insecticide sprayed on tho
walls.
After the walls are in condition
when the lumber is tight no coat of
paper is neces ssary), whitewash the in
terror of the house including the roof.
This receipt is excellent, as the wash
sticks to the surface and it is water
proof. Moreover. it is adapted for out
door use as well. Here is the formula
Adhesive Cement WhitawasE
Slake two pecks OF lime with boil
ing water, adding the water slowly
ane stirring constantly until a thin
paste results. The lime will be lunpy
If the water is added freely and the