WEEKLY DISPOSAL OF REFUSE 49 



even use pressure to make the farmers careful in the 

 disposal of manure, can even insist on stables being 

 regularly cleaned, and the house-refuse being burned 

 periodically. Manure used for agricultural purposes 

 harbours great numbers of fly-larva?. But this is only 

 dangerous when such manure is stacked in garden 

 corners or in the farmyards for more than twelve con- 

 secutive days. Such manure should be completely 

 covered up with a thin layer of earth or sand. But it 

 must be completely covered or the fly-grubs will 

 thrive. It is better to dig such manure directly into 

 the ground if possible and not to allow it to rest for 

 more than a week exposed near the houses ; flies do 

 not breed in well-tilled fields and furrows. A little 

 paraffin thrown over a manure-heap does no harm to 

 its properties ; and if done in the morning and allowed 

 to dry in the air it is not dangerous, for paraffin quickly 

 loses its inflammable qualities when exposed to the air. 

 A rural district will soon find its flies reduced in 

 numbers if the dictum goes forth all manure must be 

 disposed of regulaj'ly once a week. 



One hot summer's afternoon about twenty years ago, 

 two students were roaming about the fields hi the 

 north of London. During the course of their rambles, 

 they saw a village in the distance and they, being tired, 

 walked towards it in search of refreshment. It was 

 the village of Edgware, which in those days consisted 

 of a street of shops, one inn, and some scattered private 

 houses. They entered the inn coffee-room and began 

 a meal of tea, bread-and-butter, strawberry-jam and 

 cream a delightful repast peculiar to England. Then 

 came the flies ; they also were particularly interested in 

 this English repast, and they were soon fascinated by 

 its beauties. The flies came in their tens, their him- 



