53 



2. Active. Of applications to destroy the perfect flies, several have been recom- 

 mended, as pyrethrum powder, tobacco dust, etc., but these are little if any better than 

 the kerosene emulsion, which when sprayed over cattle killed all the flies reached and 

 prevented others from coming for from three to seven days. But these remedies for 

 the destruction of the perfect flies are only to be advised for use upon the first 

 appearance of the pest in a new locality, or early in the season for the destruction of 

 the first brood. The true way to fight this enemy is by the treatment of the cattle 

 droppings so as to destroy the eggs and larvae. The maggots can live in the dung 

 only while it is in a moist condition. Any means, therefore, which will ensure its 

 drying up will destroy them. For this purpose, lime, land plaster, and wood ashes are 

 suggested. The last named of these will probably be found the best, not only from its 

 strong alkaline properties, which are destructive to insect life, but also from its great 

 value as a fertilizer, and the ease with which it can usually be obtained on every farm. 



Messrs. Riley and Howard state that " throwing a spadeful of lime upon a cow- 

 dung will destroy the larvje living in it. If the evil should increase, it will well repay a 

 stock raiser to start a load of lime through his fields occasionally, particularly in May or 

 June, as every larva killed then represents the death of very many flies during July and 

 August. We feel certain that this course will be found in many cases practical and of 

 great avail, and will often be an advantage to ihe pasture besides." 



I believe that Canadian wood ashi|g would be far superior to lime, and if neither of 

 these were easily obtainable, a good shovelful of dry earth or road dust would soon absorb 

 the moisture necessary for the development of the larvae. 



Of all the remedies I have tried or seen suggested, the one which commends itself 

 to me as the most practical is by Prof. J. B. Smith, who says : " By sending a boy over the 

 pasture every other day with a shovel to thoroughly spread out the cow-droppings, all eggs 

 and larvte would be destroyed." I think if this were done twice a week it would be 

 sufficient, and the remedy would be equally effective in wet weather, when the substance 

 would be washed away, as in dry when it is dried up. 



Spread of the Horn-fly. — A correspondent in Uniontown, Pa., writes us that 

 the Horn-fly has made its appearance in that vicinity, having first been noticed last 

 season and having become very abundant the present summer. While spending a few 

 weeks m Greene County, N.Y , we noticed this insect in comparative abundance, but not 

 yet numerous enough to attract attention by the habit of congregating upon the horns. 

 Another new locality has been given us by Mr. J. H. Woodruff, of Watertown, Conn., 

 who has found the fly to be very abundant in his vicinity, and still another locality is 

 Waller County, Tex. We are indebted to Mr. F. W. Thurow for specimens from this 

 region. During the month of August complaints have also come in from quite a number 

 of correspondents, among others from the following : Elisha Slade, Bristol County, Mass. ; 

 Miss E. J, Phillips, Cuyahoga County, Ohio ; George L. Oliver, Otsego County, N. Y. ; 

 Devoe and Shumway, Montgomery County, N.Y. ; T. C. Ross, Jefi'erson County, Iowa ; 

 B. F. Koons, Tolland County, Conn. ; I. N. Rauls, Citrus County, Fla. — Insect Life, 

 Sept., 1892. 



CLOTHES MOTHS, 



By James Fletcher, F. L, S., F, R. S. C. 



In a northern climate, with such winters as we enjoy in Canada, furs and woollen 

 clothing are indispensable. Only too well known to all housekeepers are the miserable 

 little creatures which in their various forms and different species are grouped under the 

 name of Clothes-moths. There are few indeed who have not felt the irritation of finding 

 at some time irretrievable damage had been committed in the family supply of winter 

 clothing, particularly of woollen underclothes, socks, mitts and furs, which it was thought 

 had been " peppered and put safely away last spring before the moths appeared," to say 

 nothing of the stripped patches of carpet under the piano and sofas, or even of the little 



