388 JotTENAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. NoV., 1922. 



should be sufficient to destroy disease-producing' germs. These mate- 

 rials rotted down increase the fertilizing value of the stack. The 

 female fly is attracted by the fresh manure, and there the eggs are 

 laid: soon afterwards the maggots show signs of activity. Escaping 

 from the heat of the rapidly-decomposing heap, the maggots find their 

 way to the edge of the stack from where they drop through the meshes 

 to the cement floor outside. This floor, however, is also too hot, 

 having been heated by the sun, and the maggots migrate further to 

 the channel where they are collected. They may then be fed to 

 the fowls. 



In the course of tiiue the manure in the flrst enclosure cools 

 off, and the variation in temi)erature is not suitable for maggot 

 breeding. The stack no longer attracts the female fly, and it is 

 then that the succeeding second, thiid, or fourth enclosure (as 

 required) with iis fresh manure must he at hand to continue the 

 process. 



Treated in this manner it is estimated tJiat manure is three or 

 four times the value of that rotted down in the ordinary manner: 

 in a dry climate, however, liberal watering of the stack every day 

 is necessary to promote decomposition and heat development. The 

 cost of construction of the platforms can be cut down by paving with 

 ordinary cobble stones grouted in cement, using solid cement work 

 only at the edges of the enclosure and for the channel. It i^hould be 

 possible for cement works to turn out at low cost blocks for the 

 laying of the channel, sump, and edges of the enclosure. If desired 

 holes could l)e provided in the blocks for the insertion of the fencing 

 standards, so that the lemaining constiuction work would only consist 

 of laying the blocks to plan, roughly paving the space enclosed, and 

 putting up the pig wire fence. 



Where it has been adopted, the device has g'iveii remarkable 

 results : it is described by Dr. Haydon as being more successful 

 than any methods hitherto in vogue for disposing* of manure and 

 garbage for a useful purpose, and at the same time effecting that 

 greatly desired object, the clearance of the house-fly and the many 

 ills it engenders. 



It is requested that any person using this device will communicate 

 the results to the Editor. 



The Castration of Animals with the Burdizzo Pincers. 



The publication in tlie August, 1921, issue of tlie Journal of an 

 article by Dr. Veglia, Division of Veterinary Education and Research, 

 regarding the invention of Dr. iiurdizzo for castrating animals, caused 

 widespread interest, and many inquiries followed reg*arding the 

 process. Since then observations on the manipulation and effective- 

 ness of the pincers have continued at Onderstepoort, and further hints 

 on the subject by Dr. Veglia are published in the present issue of the 

 Journal. The expeditious and humane castration of animals is an 

 important matter to pastoral South Africa, and the Burdizzo method, 

 which is gaining wide jjopularity, has advantag-es which Dr. Veglia 

 considers justify its adoption in this country. For further particulars, 

 application should be made to the Director of Veterinary Education 

 and Research, P.O. Box 593, Pretoria. 



