Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1875 — Repelling Flies from Stock. [ARTICLE]

Repelling Flies from Stock.

Some one w-ho doubtless never tried the experiment recommended in many agricultural papers saturating the hair of cattle and horses with a strong decoction made bv boiling the leaves of walnut trees. There is not a particle of efficacy in such a remedy. We applied coal tar to the hair of a cow on her legs and sides, but the flies worked right through the tar, annoying the animal about as much as before the tar was laid on. J. J. Mechi calls attention to the system of darkening cow stables by hanging old canvas over the openings, adoptee! by the late Mr. Hudson,\of Castle Acre, to’keep out tlie flies. He says that on a visit there he was amused and instructed by seeing the well-fattened cattle get rid of their tormentors by passing between pendant canvas curtains, which admitted them and closed after them, rendering the shed dark and flyless. Another friend who had many cows in a long shed, having its ridge louvre-boarded throughout its whole length and divided by a pendant board on Watson’s principle, excluded light except from these openings in the roof. Not a single cow's tail was in motion, for tlie flies would not descend into the darkness. Dr. William Home says: I have experimented with many things for the prevention desired, but all have failed except a darkened stabte when the horse is not in use. and a cover made of cheese-cloth with ear and neck piece when in use. I am using one worn three summers, and it is good for this season. I had a'Fostly net, which did not answer half sO'well as the cheese-cloth. This is bound with red, with holes for the turrets and saddle-hooks to pass through. The neck-piece is separate from the body-piece.— A. F. Herald.