Flytraps and Their Operation 



9 



In order to retain the fertilizin<ij value of manure to the greatest 

 extent it is advisable to exclude the air from it as much as possible 

 and to protect it from the leachincr action of rains. This being the 

 case, there is really no necessity to cover a large portion of the top 

 of the box with a trap, but merely to have holes large enough to 

 attract flies to the light and cover these holes with ordinary conical 

 traps with the legs cut off so the bottom of the trap will fit closely 

 to the box. The same arrangement can be made where manure is 

 kept in a pit. In large bins two or more holes covered with traps 

 should be provided for the escape of the flies. 



Manure boxes should be used by all stock owners in towns and 

 cities, and they are also adaptable to farms. The size of the manure 



-«; ^ 



Fig. 6. 



-Use of flytrap in connection with manure bin. A, Block of wood set in ground 

 to which It-ver raising door is hinged 



bin should be governed by the individual needs, but for use on the 

 farm it is desirable to make it large enough to hold all of the manure 

 produced during the busiest season of the year. A box 14 feet long, 

 10 feet wide, and 4 feet deep will hold the manure produced by two 

 horses during about five months. About 2 cubic feet of box space 

 should be allowed for each horse per day. The bin should be made 

 of concrete or heavy plank. When the latter is used the cracks 

 should be battened to prevent the escape of flies. The bin may have 

 a floor or it may be set in the ground several inches and the dirt 

 closely banked around the outside. For the admission of the manure 

 a good-sized door should be provided in either end of a large bin. 

 A portion of the top should be made easily removable for conven- 

 ience in emptying the box, or one entire end of the box mav be 



