14 



the slightest disturbauce. The bites seem to produce great irritation 

 and sores are frequently formed where the animals rub themselves 

 against trees or other objects. 



DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE HORN FLY. 



It has been claimed by some that this insect has caused the death 

 of animals, but there does not seem to be satisfactory evidence that 

 the assertion is true. A careful examination of the statements to 

 this effect by Mr. Howard leads him to believe that the flies alone 

 will never cause the death of an animal. In regions badly infested 

 by the Horn Fly, stock has often been tormented to such an extent 

 as to cause the animals to grow poor and to yield a much smaller 

 quantity of milk than otherwise ; the reduction in some cases is 

 reported to be from one-third to one-half. 



REMEDIES. 



As the larvae or young of this insect feed on the partly liquid sub- 

 stance of the fresh dung, Prof. Smith recommends sending a boy 

 over the pasture every other day to spread out all the cow dung so 

 that it may dry quickly and thus destroy all the eggs and larvae in it. 

 He also states that a sprinkling of lime over the cow dung would 

 answer the same purpose. Prof. Riley and Mr. Howard, in a special 

 bulletin on the Horn Fly, issued by the Department of Agriculture, 

 under preventive applications say as follows : " Almost any greasy 

 substance will keep the flies away for several days. A number of 

 experiments were tried in the field, with the result that train-oil 

 alone, and train-oil with a little sulphur or carbolic acid added, will 

 keep the flies away for from five to six days, while with a small pro- 

 portion of carbolic acid it will have a healing effect upon sores which 

 may have formed. Train-oil should not cost more than from fifty to 

 seventy-five cents per gallon, and a gallon will annoint a number of 

 animals. Common axle grease, costing ten cents per box, will answer 

 nearly as well, and this substance has been extensively and success- 

 fully used by Mr. William Johnson, a large stock dealer at Warren- 

 ton, Va. Tallow has also been used to good advantage. The 

 practice of smearing the horns with pine or coal-tar simply repels 

 them from these parts. Train-oil or fish-oil seems to be more lasting 

 in its effects than any other of the substances used." 



