Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1896 — Killing the Horn Fly. [ARTICLE]

Killing the Horn Fly.

At this season of the year cattle are suffering from the persistent biting of the horn fiy. This fly, which is smaller than the house fly, congregates in colonies about the base of the horns, along up the back and sides, at tender points about the flanks and udder, and on the belly. This fly sucks blood from cattle and so irritates them as no doubt to retard the laying on of flesh with beef cattle and the production of milk by milch cows. Many substances have been recommended to keep away the flies. The Mississippi experiment station recommends two parts of cotton seed oil or fish oil and one part pine tar. This station applied this mixture to 350 head at a total cost for material of $2. 20. Kerosene emulsion has also been used, spraying in over the cattle with a knap-sack sprayer. The flies are killed by the emulsion if it touches them. The emulsion may be made by mixing at the rate of one pint of soft soap (or one-fourth pound of hard soap dissolved in boiling water) and one pint of kerosene in 15 pints of water, thoroughly whipped and churned together.

At the Indiana experiment station, we have tried different substances to keep qway the flies. None of these were effective over two or three days. We have tested a preparation called “Shoo Fly,” which answered very well for two days. The main objection to this is its cost, 50 cents a quart or $1.50 per gallon in three, five and ten gallon cans. One quart will, do for on** application on about 50 animals. We have, however, secured fully as satisfactory results by using, a quart of fish oil in which was mixed about two tablespoonfuls of crude carbolic acid. Fish oil is 60 cents per gallon in Lafayette. These liquids are applied on the body with a flat paint brush about four inches wide. Fish oil is especially disagreeable to flies, and is probably largely used in the special preparations, sold at high prices. There is one objection to using any form of tar, in that it makes the hair sticky, which accumulates dirt and so gives it a bad appearance. Stockmen would do well to break up the manure in the pasture whenever possible, as the flies deposit their eggs in it, from which the young are developed. If the manure is gathered |

up or broken to pieces wiXhin-a day or so, and if remedies to keep off the flies are applied to the cattle, the insects will disappear early in the season. —Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station BqHetin.

C. S. PLUMB,

Director •