1899] CHEESE AND BACON FLY. 19 



might prove of use to try the effect of turning in hot steam (see p. 16, 

 preceding) ; but it would assuredly be desirable, although I do not see 

 this point brought forward, in the case of the serubbings and washings 

 with water, to use this at as great a heat as could be managed by the 

 workers ; and where scalding soft-soap wash could be " swilled" along 

 floors, it would be pretty sure to make an end of all infestation that it 

 touched. 



Treatment to preserve material from attack, or to get rid of infestation 

 when present. — One plan which is noted as having been found effectual 

 after several years' trials is to put calico caps on the Cheese, as well 

 as the binders. This keeps off Cheese vermin generally, as flies, 

 beetles, &c. 



Preservation of Hams from attack by securing them in bags is 

 alluded to from various quarters, but I do not find any working recipe 

 for this treatment, except mention in one instance that the Hams were 

 rubbed with black pepper before putting them in the bags. It is plain 

 that the advice given in regard to bagging Hams to protect them from 

 the " Ham Beetle " is equally applicable for Ham Fhj in respect of the 

 material used being strong enough for there to be no risk of holes 

 being broken in it by accidental rough treatment. Also holes gnawed 

 by mice would require to be looked for, and also care would need to be 

 taken that the material used, whether canvas or otherwise, was such as 

 would allow no chance of maggots laid by the flies outside the bags 

 making their way through to the cured meat within. The eg^ of 

 P. casei is only about one-twenty-fifth part of an inch in length, and 

 about a quarter of that measure in width — that is to say, about one- 

 hundredth part of an inch in width ; and the young " hopper " maggots 

 on their first hatching from an egg of the above-mentioned size might 

 presumably make their way pretty easily through material not carefully 

 chosen to allow of no passage. Bags afford sheltering places in their 

 folds for the infestation, and up to date of observations some appli- 

 cation which might be deterrent to fly and maggot presence, and 

 uon- injurious to the Ham within the bag, seems to be a great 

 desideratum. 



To clear eggs from the Cheeses before the maggots hatch, it is 

 recommended that each Cheese should be rubbed hard every morning — 

 one U.S.A. observer notes, "We usually go through the rooms twice a 

 day and look for eggs " ; also the use of a Cheese-grease that contains 

 some rosin, and which gives a hard coating, is advised. 



Portions of Cheese and Ham that are found to be attacked should 

 be cut out, and as soon as possible after observation ; and, with regard 

 to Cheese, it is recommended that, after cutting out the piece, a 

 thorough dusting of black pepper should be given, and the cavity re- 

 filled with Cheese, and covered carefully with calico. A careful watch 



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