The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-07-16
SUCCESSFUL TON
 OF LICE, MITES AND PLEAS
How to Kill Parasites on the Poultry and DestrOyTheir Breeding Quarters-For- mulas for Making aCheap, Effective Insecticide, Dusting Powder and a Salve
By FRANK c. HARE

By FRANK c. HARE
 Poultry Husbandman Clemson College South Carolina.
 The presence of lice, mites and fleas is not only troublesome, but these parasites are responsible for a heavy death rate; they turn profits into losses in many oth-
 erwise well-kept flocks. Hens cease lay ing, they desert their matching eggs
 chicks are stunted and all poultry isl weakened by vermin; when vitality is low fowls are subject to disease. This arti- cle explans how to avoid these losses.
 When disease appears in a poultry he immediately organizes campaign to combat 1t. When a hawk or crow, rat or cat, carries off his chicks, he lies away at night evolving plans to destroy the offender. He fights these enemies vigor | ously, because they are apparent or real. [,
 But, unfortunately, these apparent chicken killers do not constitute his main | foe. He has an enemy whose legions wage battle continuously, not. openly, but from under cover, and the devastation is so widespread that three-quarters of the chicks and mature fowls that die an untimely death, fall during it's attack. | There are three divisions of this greates: enemy of poultry, called external para sites, working harmoniously to multiply their forces at the expense of the host, 1 and these divisions are lice, mites and i fleas. Let us first consider the general plan of operations of these pests, then study the tactics of the different mem bers of this triumvirate, and, by attack ing their weaker offenses, overcome and l finally annihilate them.
 All forms of parasites enjoy dark, dirty, l insanitary poultry houses, and filthy nests and roosting quarters. Given such a | breeding ground, their propa gation can be carried on to the fullest extent. Hence, | the first act of exterminaton 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 insecticide covers every portion of the l woodwork and fills every crevice. A cheap, effective, insectcide that will Kill every parasite it touches, and the fumes ! of which will tend to keep the parasitcsi away from places where it is used is l made as follows:
 CHEAP, EFFECTIVE INSECTICIDE
 Kerosene (coal oiD one gallon.
 Coal tar, one pint.
 Melted lard, one tablespoonful.
 Stir the melted lard in the kerosene and add the coal tar. If the latter can not be obtained, sub stitute one pint of cresol or similar product, or one-half point of crude carbolc acid. Spray orl paint the insecticide on the fittings re- moved 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 development of mites and the spread of lice and fleas will be material ly reduced. Rake out the old litter used on the floor 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 fleas. through using a poultry house built of rough lumber which has shrunken and warped with age. The way to overcoem this diffi- culty 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 pen d 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 fleas can multiply up- molested by any whitewash or insecticide sprayed on the walls.
 After the walls are in condition (when the lumber Is tight no coat of paper is necessary. whitewash the interior of the house including the roof. This receipt is excellent as the wash sticks to the sur | face and it is waterproof. Moreover, it 1
 Is adapted for outdoor use as we'll Here is the formula: ADHESIVE CEMENT WHlTEWASH
 Stake two pecks of lime with boiling water. adding the water slowly and stir ring constantly until a thin paste re- suits. The lime vii be lumpy if the water is added freely and the mass is not properly stirred Mix one gallon of salt in the lime paste, stir well, then add water to bring the paste to the proper consis- tency for whitewashng. Throw good handful of Portland cement and a tea spoonful of ultramarine blue in each pail of whitewash just before the wash is to be used. Thoroughly mixy otherwise the