Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29
ANOTHER WAR DECLARED
AGAINST AMERICAN FLY
An Army Of Countless Millions That
Must Be Annihilatcd-Special
Efforts in tho Cities.
GOVERNMENT SOUNDS WARNING
Town Stable Fly Is Worst Branch OF
Enemy's Great Army - Easy to
Whip Out-Prompt Preparedness
and Active Fight Necessary.

Another war has been declared. or
rather redeclared. It is the war of
all humanity against the pestifcrous
ny. The National Department of Agri-
culture fully explains to the farmer
how this war should be waEed this
year on every farm in the country, and
concludes its instructions with a few
lines TO the jewellers within the towns
and cities. a few pointers gathered
from the governments long bulletin
OF instructions will come In well
enough Just at this season as an in
dustrial proposition.
In the fight againat tho deadly house
ny the public should understand the
odds against which Il contends TO rid
cities of the pest and the vigilance nee
essary to obtain even a modicum Of
safety where the insects exist. Each
female ny lays 1oo eggs, which hatch
in eight hours. Ten days later this
new generation is in flight. carrying
on the work of death Some one has
estimated that the progeny OF a single
pair in one season is one sextillion. Put
that In figures and it would fill a whole
line In this column. 1t is more mil
lions than it would be wise TO count
out.
the breeding spots Of flies The De-
partment Of Agriculture in it's expert
ments has found larvae and puparla
enough in pound Of stable manure to
make 1900 house flies a single i'll
kept stable will supply house flies for
a large territory.
EFFECTIVE METHODS THAT
MAY EASILY DE ADOPTED
There Is hope Of greatly lessenlng
the pest in cities il the authorities will
enforce good ordinances on the sub
ject OF removing manure and garbage
promptly. The increase in automobiles
and auto trucks has already aided in
exterminating flies. Horse owners can
help the crusade by mixing chloride Of
lime with the manure in the ratio Of
quarter OF a pound OF the former to
eight quarts OF the latter. A stin
cheaper and more effective destroyer Of
the larvae is Kerosene. pint OF which
sprayed upon every eight quarts of
manure will kill the maGEots.
So far as the dwelling house is con-
cerned there are number OF effective
ways OF destroying the flies. Carbolic
acid is one. Twenty drops Of this on
heated shovel or anything of the
kind will kill the insects by its rapor.
But as this Is a dangerous thing to
have in the house where young chill
dren are II would DO better TO get
something harmless and yet effective.
Buy one dram OF bichromate of pot
ash at a drug store. Dissolve il in
two ounces Of water, add little sugar.
and place the mixture in shallow dishes
about the house.
Another good remedy Is formalin or
formaldehyde. spoonful of this in a
quarter OF a pint OF water will kill
all the hies. AS this is poison. II
must be placed where childreu cannot
reach 1t.
THINGS TO DO AND
THINGS NOT TO DO
When a room is found full OF hies
they may all he instantly destroyed by
the use of pyrethrum powder. Close
the doors and windows and pull down
all the shades except one which leave
up about foot. Take into the room
a tablespoonful OF the powder on a
hot shovel. The fumes will drive the
flies In their death struggle toward
the foot OF light ri the window. There
they will fall dead and may easily be
swept out.
There are various kinds Of sticky
fypaper. traps. etc. The papers should
he burned when they have done their
work
Screen every window and door of
your house. and keep the screens on
till you start up your furnace.
Have separate screen covers for
food which must be exposed in pantry
and kitchen.
Let Cleanliness. and Cleanliness. and
yet more Cleanliness be your motto all
summer long.
Don't dine at q hotel. boarding
house or restaurant where flies are
tolerated.
Don't allow fiies in your house.
Don't permit them near your food,
especially milk.
Don't buy food where flies are per-
mitted.
Don't allow them in a sick room.
Don't let them crawl over the baby
or the nipple OF its nursing bottle
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