The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1918-08-15
DEAD FLIES ARE
ONLY GOOD FLIES
Swatting in Summer May Prevent
Abundant Reproduction Be-
fore Cold Weather.
IS vERlTABLE "GERM. HUN"
Screening and Use of Papers, Polsors
and Traps Are Good Only as Tenn
porary Espedente-use Of
Formalln Is Favored.

Every fly that this year contamln-
ates and destroys food or spreads i'll
ness IS an enemy Of America in even
greater degree than in the past. AS
fly hunter, allud.ng To the tendency
Of the insect TO spread disease. ex-
pressed it recently. the rs is verit-
able "Gerin-Hun." Every fly de-
stroyed means a contribution, be 1t
ever so slight to the cause of Amer
lea efficient.
The best time TO swat the ny, OF
course, is early in the breeding season,
before the young ones have become
grandparents Flies killed in the
spring prevent hordes later on. But
IT is a neyer-ending battle, and in
late July and early August vigilance
becomes more than ever necessary.
Work to XII aies even at this time
may prevent abundant reproduction
before cold weather. In fact, there Is
no closed season in hunting flies. A
swat in any day Of the year is a
meritorous swat, and even a ly Luzz-
ing around a window-pane in midwin-
ter should be regarded as legitimate
prey.
Controlling the Fly.
Careful screening Of windows and
doors during the summer months does
not decrease the number of flies, but
at least Il lessons the danger Of con-
tamination Of food. This applies not
only TO homes, but with equal force
to stores, restaurants, bakeries, dali
ries, and every other place where food
is handled. Use Of sticky ny papers
to destroy fies that have gained ac-
cess to houses also is well-known, and
fly-polson preparations are common.
Many Of the commercial fly poisons
contain arsenic. and their use in the
household is Intended by considerable
danger. especially TO children. This
danger. according to specialists Of the
United States department OF agricul-
ture, Is lessened by the use OF weak
solution Of formaliu. An effective fly
poison is made by adding three tea
spoonfuis Of the commercial formalln
70 a pint OF milk or water sweetened
with little brown sugar.
F-lytraps may be used to advantage.
Their use has been advocated not only
because Of Immediate results, but he
cause of the chances that the flies may
be caught before they lay their first
batch Of eggs. thus reducing the NUM-
bers Of future generations. Many
types Of fly traps are on the mnrket,
and as a rnle the larger ones are eff
iectiye. The United States department
Of agriculture on request viii send
directions for making fytraDs, not only
for household use, but for catching
flies and destroying eggs around sta
bles and other breeding places.
Preventive Measures
Fly papers, poisons and traps at
best are only temporary expedients.
The most logical method Of abating
the fly nuisance is the elimination or
treatment of all breeding places. 1t
would appear. specialists say from
what is known OF the life history and
habits of the common house fly that
ii is perfectly feasible for cities and
towns TO reduce the numbers Of these
ANNOYING and dangerous insects 50
ereatly as to render them of compare
lively slight account Following are
some recommendations Of entomolo-