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THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



January 23, 1909, 



INSECT NOTES. 



Combating Mites and Lice on Poultry. 



The accompanying notes, dealing with lice and 

 mites on poultry and in poultry-houses, supplement 

 the information given on this subject in a recent 

 number of the AgriciUtural A'eivs (November 14 last, 

 p. 362). These "notes, with others, have lately been 

 issued in leaflet form by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture : — 



There are several varieties of lice that atlark ]ioultr_v. 

 They subsist mainly on the feathers, and perhaps on the 

 epidermal scales. They are found largely on the head and 

 neck, tinder the wings and about the vent, and when present 

 in large numbers they cause the fowls nuich discomfort. 

 Pyrethrum, or Persian insect powder, powdered sulphur, and 

 some of the various preparations on the market, su(,di as the 

 louse powders, are good in combating these pests. The hens 

 can be dusted with one of these powders after they have gone 

 to roo.st. Have the powder in a bo.x with a perforated cover, 

 grasp the fowl l\v the leg.s, and shake the powder w'ell 

 among the feathers. Dust at least three times, at intervals 

 of about a week, in order to catch the lice which hatch out 

 after the first dusting. The mites subsist on the blood of 

 the fowls, and are not usually found on the bodies of the 

 bird, except when at roost or on the nest. During the day 

 they inhabit cracks and crevices of the walls, roost.s, and 

 nests. Sitting hens arc often .so aiuioyed that they are 

 compelled to leave the nest in order to relieve themselves of 

 these parasites. The free use of kerosene about the nests 

 and perches is useful in fighting the mites. The walls of 

 the house may be sprayed with kerosene, the operation being 

 reiieated every three or four days for tw^o weeks. Insect 

 pri\\-dcrs are of little avail. 



The following method has |iroved excellent in ridding 

 houses of mites and lice when the weather conditions are 

 such as to permit the birds being kept outside the house for 

 five or si.x hours ; Close all the doors and window.s, and see 

 that there are no cracks or other openings to admit air. Get 

 an iron vessel and set it on gravel or sand near the centre of 

 the house ; place a handful of shavings in tlie vessel, 

 .saturate this with kero.sene oil, and then spiinkle on the to[> 

 of the .shavings a quantity of sulphur, estimated at the 

 rate of 1 Ifc. to every 90 or 100 si|uare feet of floor 

 siiace. Instead of using the shavings and kerosene, the 

 sidlihur can be saturated with wood alcohol. When every- 

 thing else is in readiness, liglit the material and hastily 

 leave the house. Tliere is very little ilanger of fire wlu-n 

 projier |)recautions have been taken to have plenty of soil 

 beneath the vessel. Allow the house to remain closed for 

 three or four hour.s, at the end of which time one can safely 

 conclude that there are no living beings inside. Now throw 

 all the doors and windows wide open, so as to drive out the 

 •sulphur fumes thoroughly, and then the fowls may be allowed 

 to enter. Let them in one by one, and as each enters catch 

 it and dust it well with insect powder, which will destroy the 

 pests on the birds. 



Tobacco ilnst is also good to use instead of insect powder. 

 The birds and house will have been freed from vernun 

 for a time, but the eggs of the insects have not been 

 destroyed, and in a week another swarm will be hatched out. 

 Therefore, it will be necessary to repeat the operation once or 

 twice before the pests are exterminated. After this, care 

 should be taken to .see t&at no strange fowl be admitted to- 

 the hou.se or yard without having been thoroughly rid of lice,, 

 as one affected hen will contaminate all the rest. 



MBJOHANICAL TILLAGE AND SUGAR- 

 CANE MACHINERY IN BRITISH 



GUIANA. 

 Owing to the prevailing scarcity of labour, the 

 question of the economical introduction of mechanical 

 tillage has naturally attracted more attention in British 

 Guiana' than in ishmds such as Barb.ados, where an 

 abuinlant labour sujiply is available. In the course of 

 its summary of agi icultural conditions in the colony 

 during 1908, the Bi'incrura Argoriij of January 2 last,. 

 refers to this subject, and mentions the chief difficul- 

 ties in the way of a more extended adoption of 

 mechanical implements ami up-to-date machinery for 

 dealing with the sugar-cane crop. The following is- 

 quoted from the article in question : — 



Some further extension of mechanical tillage has taken 

 place in connexion with cane growing, but in view of ntnner- 

 ous failures attending efforts in this direction during past 

 years, planters are chary of incurring large expenditure ori 

 implements, mules, and motors, until thorough experiment 

 demonstrates the adaptability of improved methods of 

 mechanical tillage to the conditions prevailing in this colony. 

 The heavy rainfall ex|ierienced and the stitf nature of much 

 of the soil under cultivation render the tillage 'problem 

 a difficult one, especially in view of the open system of drain- 

 age that has to be adopted. It may be said, however, that 

 the lisihter and more porous .soils can be efficiently tilled by 

 means of light implements, similar to those in use in Louisi- 

 ana. The greatest demand for labour occurs during the 

 reaping seasons, more particularly in connexion with cane 

 cutting, and it is improbable that a machine will be designed 

 callable of reaping canes. A large number of labourers havo 

 to be found employment when reaping is not in progress, 

 that is during about thirty-six weeks each year, so that they 

 may be on the spot ready to assist with harvest operations. 

 In Louisiana the harvest hands recjuired are drawn from tJie 

 neighbouring cotton States and given employment during 

 about three inouths of the year. The reaping of the cotton 

 croii is tinished before the Louisiana cane harvest begins. 



It is fully recognized that cane unloaders for feeding 

 canes to mills are of considerable value as labour-saving' 

 appliances, and although their installation is costly, every 

 owner of a large plantation has their erection in view a* 

 suitable opportunity offers. Cru.shers to prepare canes for 

 mills, now that large quantities of seedling canes have to be- 

 milled, are a necessary adjunct to a crushing plant, and they 

 are being largely adopted. The majmity of the crushing 

 plants in this colony can be improved upon. The possibility 

 that the Naudet process might prove successful and render 

 it lumece.ssary to inqirove and add to the cru.shing power of 

 mills, had .some effect in delaying outlay in this direction. It 

 does not seem likely however, that the Naudet process will 

 ever supersede heavy crushing plants. As regards boilers, 

 evaporators, etc., the majority of the factories in this colony 

 are fairly well equipped. 



