South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-13
For a Flyless Summer
BY Woods Hutchinson, NJ. ID.

Most Of our outdoor plans for the
coming summer are rightly and pa
triotically concerned with the SOW
ing of seeds and the increase Of
crops. And the supreme importance
and vital national necessity of such
plans can hardly be overstated But
it will do us no harm to also remem-
Ter. in a back corner of our minds
certain crops of garden and barn
yard, which SOW themselves, whose
seeds have wings and the decrease
of whose production should be ca
gerly fought for.
Indeed the two movements run
admirably hand in hand, for, our
annual fly crop springs up ana
hourishes in the same suns warmth
and moisture and fertilizer as gar
den vegeta bles and flowers do. While
we are encouraging one we can be
Glscouraging the other almost with
cut extra effort or waste motion,
with the back OF the hand, so to
speak.
Every forkful of manure dug
into the soil of the war garden,
every pound Of food saved from the
garbage can, every bucket of gar
bage turned into high explosive and
fertilizer may mean a hundred less
winged pests to spread disease and
render life a burden in midsummer
heat Fo- this robs so many flies of
board and lodging, of food and a
Matching place. The thorough
cleaning. raking up and tidying
which accompanies the making of
a garden is a great discourager Of
the fly crop.
Especially if it becomes a habit
and repeats itself at intervals
throughout the summer. as il does
with the enthusiastic and successful
gardener. As soon as gardens be-
gin to grow in their beautifully neat
and regular rows with smooth brown
earth between, they make every
thing else about them seem untidy
by comparison. If the passion for
garden bed reatness and tidiness
extends 10 litter and dust heaps in
the back yard, to the place where
the garbage can stands. 10 the back
porch and the space underneath Il
and under the steps, il Will pain
lessly extinguish-in advance-many
swarm of flies by a method TO
which not even the most tender
hearted opponent Of cruelty 70 ami
mails could object.
In the suburbs and in smaller
towns and villages this outdoor
spring cleaning, with its summer
repetitions. should include the harm
and stable and henhOuse. Not only
for the sake Of appearances and the
comfort OF both ourselves and our
livestock and the prevention Of the
unpleasant odors under the sum-
mer heat. though il is well worth
all the time and trouble on these
grounds alone. But also because
comparatively small deposits OF lit
ter. )r fertilizer which are left in
corners or under broken floors
where they can keep moist and
shady will furnish a slender but
steady stream and supply OF home
grown flies. who insist upon sitting
| down to every meal with US. and
are very hard To get rid OF until
their nest" is discovered and
| broken up.
One thing which the war garden
er in his tidying up or setting forth
10 work should he keenly on the
alert for i the first fly. Or rather
/ group OF flies which he finds buz-
zing slowly about in the kitchen OF
/ on the back porch. These. like the
first violet or buttercup. should be
/ eagerly watched for and picked
I at once. And this is usually not
very difficult foi they are inclined
/ TO be sluggish and 20 settle down
I for a bask in the May sunshine.
These are literally the parents OF
/ the summer swarms. the seed OF
\ the whole seasons crop To kill one
/ Of these ii May is worth the trap
/ ping OF thousand in August. Il
/ they happen 20 he first seen in
doors. as viii often occur. because
they have slept their winter sleeI