THE FLY MENAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, 4 August 1916, Page 6

THE FLY MENAGE

LETTER FROM PROFESSOR KIR7T.

Some little time ago, observing an article in The Mail on. the fly pest. -Mr J. G. Branford, of Nelson, felt he would like to so deeper into the subject, and ■wrote to the Agricultural Departmentfor information. His letter was forwarded on to Professor Kirk, who it- -will be ■remembered has dealt- with the fly at the military camp?. In reply to .Mr Branford Professor Jvirk says :

Spraying.—lf adult flies are to te killed by spraying, the best thing to use •is an emulsion of "light- oil." Light- oil is sold by the Restar Co., of Wanganui, and by the Auckland Gas Co., pri:e about "is a gallon. If jou tell the Restar Co. that you want oil such as t-hey snpplied; to me for use at Featherston Camp yon -will get -what yon want. Mis the oil one part in 4 of wator. Keep it shaken or stirred. Apply with a spray that has a metal delivery tube, as light oil plays the dickens with rubber. Apply afc night when the fles are resting. Instead of light oil you can iise kerol, 1 part in sof "water with, about half a part of kerosene. Or cresolia, used like kerol.

The same sprays may be used to kill fly larvae in manure. Stack the fresh manure regularly, to-day's on yesterday's, to-morrow's on to-day's, till you have a stack containing not more than three days* stuff. The heat- of the stack will drive maggots to the surface layer, particularly the sides near the base. This layer can be sprayed' each day for four or* five days till nothing alive remains in- it. The same spray- will do. Turn over the stuff with a fork as the spr.w is applied. Instead of that- the arsenic spray you refer to can be used. Do not turn over for this. It kills by poisoning, not by contact as the light oil does. Apply after sundown with a spray in a -watering -can. The simplest way is to buy Murton's arsenical dip. 6s 6d a gallon. Dilute with 100 to 150 parts of watsr. This brings the cost down to less than 6d a gallon. Three or four sprayings will poison most of the maggots. Attend carefully to the base of the static, spraying -with light oil any maggots that are coming down intending to leave the stack to pupate. Fermentation Heat.—lf you have much fresh manure a simpler way is to kHI maggots by the heat of the stack itself. Shake the stack as directed. On the 4th. day fork off the infested layer down to the hot stuff. Do this over the top of the stack and the upper half of the side, throwing the forked' off stuff to the base of the stack. Trample well. Then quickly cover it with two ar feet of the hot stuff from the middle of the .stack. Tins will kill everything very quickly. When the maggots are once killed in a etack it will not again be seriously reinfected.

Poisoning Flies. —One advantage of the arsenic spraying of manure is that many adult fles poison themselves at it. The same mixture may be used to soak "branches or scrim, •which, can be hung up in greenhouses or sheds about sundown for flies to rest on. They drink and die. If flies are .numerous it is worth while ■wetting the cloths two or three time during the day as well. Wires smeared •with tanglefoot can be hung in greenhouses, stables, dwelling houses, etc. This formulae for tanglefoot is one of it number given me by Dr McLaurirr, of the Dominion Laboratory, it is good:— Resin. 8 parts, rapeseed oil 4 parts, honey 1 part. Melt resin and oil together : then add honey. I suggest- as follows: Avvly warm; wire or paper or -wooden rods "may be used. My experience is in favour of /wire. Get it justright; if too soft add more resin; if too stiff more oil. For subsequent application keep c small quantity in a pannican or some other vessel and warm by setting in boiling water. Renew the coating every four or five days.