Vol. V. No. 105. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



139 



HOW TO GET RID OP MOSQUITOS. 



A PERSONAL NARRATIVE. 



In some parts of the West Indies mosquitos cause 

 a good deal of annoyance, and in not a few cases they 

 effect the general health and welfare of the community. 

 Anything that can be done to lessen their number and 

 the virulence of their attacks is, therefore, worthy of 

 attention. In the following popular notes, a corres- 

 pondent has been good enough to place on record his 

 ■own experience in that direction, in the hope that 

 •others may follow his example. 



The essential point is that the steps proposed to 

 "be taken are those that are exactly suited to the 

 circumstances in each case. As these vary, so must the 

 plan of operation. Possibly others ma}' be led to give 

 their experience in dealing with mosquitos, and so 

 place the results on record. In the meantime, our 

 correspondent's contribution is as follows: — 



As an ounce of fact is worth a bushel of theory, it might 

 "be interesting to readers of the Agricultural News to have 

 placed before them a brief story of my experience in getting 

 rid of mosquitos. Not only has this been accomplished, but 

 I believe I have also greatly improved the health and 

 comfort of my household. 



I am a believer in the theory that mosquitos are capable 

 ■of conveying infection, and the fewer there are about the 

 better. Another, and an important point tliat I might men- 

 tion is, that I have carried out niy experiments at a nominal 

 ■cost. 



In the hope that my example might be followed by 

 other readers of the Agricultural News, I will briefly state 

 the manner in which I carried out my experiments. 



The first step was carefully to examine the immediate 

 surroundings of my house in order to satisfy myself that 

 there were no pools left about, in which the mosquitos could 

 breed. I found several depressions where water lodged, 

 ■especially where the bath water was emptied ; also near the 

 kitchen sinks and in the neighbourhood of the stables. All 

 these were immediately tilled. Next, I examined the gutters 

 •of the roofs of the house and out-buildings. I discovered quite 

 A number of unexpected depressions in these. The sparrows 

 •evidently knew them better than I did, for they had found 

 them very convenient bathing places. In order to put 

 the gutters in good condition the services of a plumber were 

 requisitioned, and in due time he made good all ' saggings,' 

 'where rain water had hitherto lodged and where, no doubt, 

 mosquitos had been breeding freely, some of them immediately 

 xinder the windows of the bedrooms. 



In order, however, to compensate the sparrows and 

 ■other birds for the loss of their bathing places, and 

 to attract the feathered tribe generally to my garden, 

 I placed a large earthenware bowl filled with water in one 

 corner of the lawn, where the birds could have their bath at 

 leisure. I placed a large stone in the middle of the bowl so 

 as to allow the birds to alight upon it and feel secure. 

 I may add that the water in the bowl was regularly emptied 

 ■every evening, so that no mosquitos could breed in it. 



In the stable yard and other localities where tanks were 

 in use for watering the horses, cows, and poultry, arrange- 

 ments were made to have these emptied every night, and 

 filled with fresh water the first thing every morning. In the 

 grounds at some distance from the house, after some search, 



I found a pool under a rock wiiere storm water collected 

 after heavy rains. In another locality, I found a disused 

 tank with a little water still lying at the bottom of it ; while 

 in a field not far away was an old well about 2-5 feet deep 

 with a good supply of water which, however, was useless as 

 there were no means of pumping it. All these I have 

 regularly treated by throwing into them once a month, 

 i pint of kerosene oil. The oil immediately spreads over 

 the surface, and forms a film that effectually destroys all 

 insect life. I may mention here that, as the refined oil 

 ordinarily used for lighting puri)oses is very volatile, it is 

 necessary to reiieat the applications of it to stagnant water 

 at regular intervals. A crude oil would last much longer. 



In my efforts, as above described, I acted on the 

 supposition that as mos(|uitos cannot breed without stagnant 

 water, nor in water covered with a film of kerosene oil, 

 sooner or later, they must disapjiear if this treatment were 

 consistently carried out ; while my experience taught me 

 that the few that were likely to be carried by the wind 

 from elsewhere would give little or no trouble. 



As a good supply of water for domestic use is supplied 

 from covered reservoirs, there were no rain water tanks or 

 cisterns to be dealt with. If these had been present, 

 I would have made the covers to them so secure as to 

 prevent mosquitos getting through, or as a last resort, used 

 wire gauze. The latter is excellent for protecting bed- 

 rooms and nurseries when other means fail or are not 

 applicable. In exceptional cases the use of slightly diluted 

 citronella oil is recommended for protecting young children 

 from mosquito bites. A mother who has tried this sjieaks 

 highly of its efficacy. A few drops placed on the pillow, and 

 slightly rubbed over the arms and hands and face, will be 

 sufficient to keep off mosquitos during the night. 



Briefly summing up my experience, I may mention that, 

 at present, there are no mosquitos about my residence where 

 formerly they were fairly abundant. Further, there are no 

 feverish symptoms amongst any members of my family, and 

 we are seldom or never troubled by the ' piping ' of any culex. 



I would advise all who are troubled by mosquitos in 

 and about dwelling houses to give a practical trial of these 

 methods for getting rid of the annoyance. If the}' do this, 

 I believe that they will learn a good deal, as I have, by 

 careful experiment, and, at the same time, will add greatly 

 to their own comfort as well as the comfort and improved 

 health of those around them. 



NORWAY. 



The new Kingdom of Norway is evidently well 

 worthy of imitation in regard to agricultui'al matters. 

 The United States Consul writes as follows in the 

 Alontldy Circular and Trade Rejwrts for December 

 last : — 



Agriculture. — Farming is popular. The people love 

 their sterile soil. They watch it, work on it, nurse it into 

 fertility, spreading on it first sea-weed and fish fertilizers. 

 The raising of cattle, the production of butter, cheese, 

 condensed milk, and the raising of poultry are conducted on 

 artistic and scientific principles. In 190-t, the Kingdom sent 

 out 1,527,000 kilograms of butter and 770,000 kilograms of 

 margarin. There is no law against the manufacture of 

 margarin, but there is a strict law, backed by a piublic 

 sentiment, against labelling it butter. Herein the Norwe- 

 gians excel. It is to their industrial and commercial honesty 

 that they owe a very great deal of the progress and prosperity 

 that have marked recent years. 



