CARE OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS 493 



weather. Basement stables are also cooler than ordinary 

 stables. The stable protection has the further advantages 

 of being less wasteful of the droppings and of protecting 

 from flies. Where it can be arranged, especially during 

 the season when flies are numerous, the ideal way for keep- 

 ing cattle and sheep is to house them in the heat of the day 

 and to give them the liberty of the pastures at other times. 



When stock are housed to protect from flies the stables 

 or sheds must be darkened and yet ventilated. This is ac- 

 complished by opening the windows to make air currents 

 and by covering them at the same time with material, as 

 coarse sacking, that will exclude much of the light, keep 

 out flies, and that will at the same time, admit the air freely. 

 Much may also be done to keep down flies by promptly re- 

 moving the manure made which is a favorite breeding 

 ground for flies, and strewing lime occasionally where it 

 may do good around the buildings. 



Cattle -are sometimes further protected from flies by 

 spraying them every few days with some preparation, as 

 sheep dip, or kerosene emulsion applied as a very fine spray. 

 Where the number of animals is limited, it is applied wit^i a 

 brush. Such offensive preparations as fish oil, have also 

 been used with good effect. These preparations are only 

 effective for a few days at a time, hence, unless special 

 apparatus has been fitted up for applying them quickly, as 

 in a narrow passageway through which the animals are 

 forced to pass, the labor involved is very considerable. To 

 apply them thus, however, has been found perfectly feasible. 

 Horses that are being driven are protected, of course, by 

 covering them with suitable netting. The darkened sheds 

 which furnish protection for sheep at the season indicated, 

 would seem to furnish a safe asylum from the assaults of 

 the gadfly, (Tabanus ruficornis), which is the source of that 

 trouble known as "grub in the head." The wallow for 

 swine is a great source of comfort in hot weather, and is to 

 some extent a protection from flies. 



