170 



to certain insects. M. mimttiflora covers the ground so thickly that 

 the flies would find no bushes to alight on, nor would they be able to 

 reach the ground through the dense growth, and might thus be driven 

 from areas planted with the grass. In the Portuguese Congo the grass 

 is used 'as bedding for poultry and animals, because of the behef 

 in its insecticidal properties. It is said not to be burnt by grass fires. 

 It is much used in South America as pasture for cattle, and it is believed 

 that ticks cannot five in it. It is even said that cattle when fed on the 

 grass and then moved to tick-infested pastures are not attacked by 

 the parasites for some time. It is beheved in Colombia that the fly 

 producing warbles in cattle in South America {Dermatobia hominis) 

 is disappearing before the extending cultivation of this grass, which 

 grows easily on either moist or dry land and spreads very rapidly. 



The possibilities of converting fly-infested areas into profitable 

 grazing lands for cattle are discussed. In such areas trees and bush, 

 where flies shelter, should be cleared away, and the land planted first 

 with maize, beans, ground-nuts or cotton, and after re-clearing 

 the grass seed should be sown. The opinion is expressed that the 

 crops gathered should pay for the initial cost of clearing the land and 

 planting the grass. The project would have to be carried out on a large 

 scale to be effective, and would require Government support. 



Pierce (W. D.). Some Milk Goat Problems observed in California.— 



Cal. State Dept. Agric, Sacramento, Spec. Pi\bn. 22, 15th May 

 1922, 13 pp. 



These notes on the parasites of goats are based on personal 

 observation in the San Mateo County during 1921, and do not claim 

 to be exhaustive for the State of California. 



The larvae of Oestrus ovis, L., are deposited in the nostrils of sheep 

 and goats, whence they reach the frontal sinuses. In the case of goats 

 death frequently results from infestation. The nostrils of these animals 

 should be protected by the application of pine tar and eucalyptus oil 

 in the proportions of 1 pint to 1 oz. This may be brushed on the nose 

 of each animal as it leaves the pen or applied to the boards above the 

 feeding rack. 



The louse, Linognathus stenopsis, Burm., is particularly injurious 

 to kids, and is thought to cause material reduction in the numbers 

 reared to maturity ; it may be controlled by dusting with sodium 

 fluoride powder, frichodectes climax, Nitzsch, is found on all parts of 

 the body of the animals ; it retards the growth of the kids and injures 

 the condition of the flesh. This louse produces loss in weight and milk 

 production. The standard arsenical dip may be used against it, 

 but for goats should be made as follows : 4-5 lb. dry, granulated 

 caustic soda, at least 85 per cent, pure, 10 lb. white arsenic in fine 

 powder, 99 per cent, pure, and 10 lb. sal soda crystals, all mixed into 

 1 U.S. gal. water kept just below boiling point, to which 5 U.S. gals, 

 are added, making a stock solution For use this must be diluted at 

 the rate of 1 part to 124 of water with the addition of \ part pine tar. 



About 50 per cent, of the goats were found to be infested with ear 

 mites, Psoroptes communis var. ovis, Hering, for which an ointment 

 made of sulphur flowers and sweet oil should be used. 



The various flies associated with herds of goats are Musca domestica, 

 L., Stomoxys calcitrans, L., Cochliomyia {Chrysomyia) macellaria, L. 

 (screw-worm fly), Phormia regina, Meig., Lucilia sericata, Meig., and 

 Calliphora coloradensis. Hough. It is essential that milk should be 

 protected from these flies. 



