To Destroy Flies

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1915

To insure the destruction of flies and the elimination of this source of danger to health and life, it is absolutely necessary to deal with the fly larvae. We now know that ninety per cent or more of flies breed in horse manure. To stop this breeding it is necessary either to remove completely the manure from the stables and barnyard twice a week, or at least once a week, and spread it over the fields, or in some other way get rid of it. If this is impossible, some disinfectant must be added to the manure that will kill the fly larvae and prevent their development. The United States Department of Agriculture has made extensive experiments with various substances useful for the destruction of the larvae in horse manure, and has come to the conclusion that commercial borax is the most effective, economical, and practical agent for this purpose. The directions are:—

“Apply one pound of borax to twelve bushels (fifteen cubic feet) of manure immediately on its removal from the barn. The borax should be applied particularly around the outer edges of the pile, using a flour sifter or other fine sieve, after which two or three gallons of water should be sprinkled over the pile.”—Selected.