Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1889 — Protection Against Fliea. [ARTICLE]

Protection Against Fliea.

The plague of flies touches a very 'tender spot—the pocketbook—for it| causes animals to lose flesh, or at least to make less gain than they would otherwise. By affording protection to the animals, we save money as truly as we do by giving them comfortable shelter. The best protection for hogs is the wallow. Though cattle have tough hides, flies occasion them much discomfort, and It is humane and profitable to make a smudge. In some situations this is actually necessary at certain seasons. The animals soon learn to take advantage of the smoke. Horses suffer greatly from flies, on account of a tenderer skin and sensitive nervous organization. When we have them at work, their struggles against their tormentors are annoying to ue. It is unpleasant to use animals kicking, biting, and stamping at flies. For farm teams the cheapest protection is leather nets. With reasonable care these will last for years. They should be cleaned and oiled at least once a month while they are in use, or the sweat ol the animal will rapidly rot them. They increase the warmth of the animal at little as any efficient protection. Cotton nets are a good protection to tho carriage horse, but are not strong enough for farm work. Those who cannot buy leather nets should get the coarsest gunny sacking. This, being very open does not much heat the animal. The cover should reach over the neck with pockets to cover the ears. These cov-

ers should be washed once a month while in use, and when they are put away at the end of fly time. Gnats infest the inside of horses’ ears. Pure Jard is a good protection, applied once a day. The deposit by the bot fly of its eggs under the jaw makes many horses unmanageable. A cloth can be .tied to the bridle in such a way as to protect the jaw. The legs of horses require protection more than their bodies. Flies choose the legs, as the skin in these parts is thinner, and the blood vessels are nearer the surface. It is strange that we do not oftener see the legs of the animals protected, as the flies are not much disturbed by stamping. Leggins from old oVerhalls or made from gunny sacks, are good material, and the man ashamed to drive a team so protected about his farm has more false pride than good sense. Leggins made lika the leather nets for the body are, in the end, the cheapest and can be made by any harness maker.—American Agriculturist