120 CIVIC BIOLOGY 



insist that all their neighbors do likewise. Thus general civic 

 cooperation tends to enforce itself along lines of financial 

 necessity. Work out a plan of campaign good enough to in- 

 sure enlisting every home. In. order to give time for discus- 

 sion and publication of plans for the active work the following 

 spring, this should be done in connection with insect lessons 

 in the early fall, when flies are abundant and troublesome. 

 Killing the breeders in the fall is as good or better than kill- 

 ing them in the early spring, and on one farm where this was 

 done scarcely any flies appeared the next spring, while farms 

 half a mile away were swarming with them. 



Nothing can take the place of bringing the actual speci- 

 mens into the laboratory and of studying the flies and mag- 

 gots as" they swarm in and about the filth of outhouses and 

 stables, gutters and spittoons. If every one could be shown, 



could be made to see and study the flies as they live, 



the community would be in the fight to a man, and this 

 is all we need for complete success. One teacher who tried 

 this writes: 



Last week I had some maggots in horse manure. 1 It was an unusual 

 thing to do in school, but I wished to emphasize the idea of filth. I 

 think it was successful, for the disgust was great when they saw that 

 they changed into flies. People are" so irresponsible that they have to 

 be shocked to awaken their fighting power. 



Things to avoid in civic fly campaigns. During any season when 

 breeding is possible, avoid offering prizes or money enough to encourage 

 raising flies. Also, never give more than ten days the time of a gen- 

 eration in prize contests during the breeding season. A fortune 

 might be made raising flies at ten cents a quart. 



Avoid delay. While spring is the ideal time to start a campaign, one 

 begun in midsummer or even fall will result in much good and will help 

 educate a community in plans and methods for effective work the 

 following season. 



1 This can be done in a safe and cleanly manner by means of large bottles. 

 They must be stoppered securely, as maggots are strong and can burrow and 

 squeeze through minute cracks. 



