MAKAGEMEXT OF COWS li^ THE STABLE. 18i 



healthful, and with a little care there need be no risk in 

 making it. Then there are some applications that may 

 be made to the animals themselves. Wormwood, tansy, 

 tomato leaves, and, best of all, carbolic acid in water 

 (one dram to a pailful), may be applied to their skins, 

 and chiefly the legs, the last thing in the evening, and 

 left on to dry. The last two years we have used Persian 

 insect powder with the best results. A small quantity 

 of this dusted freely through the stable and blown 

 through a tube on to the ceiling, stanchions, and stalls, 

 will kill every fly in the stable, and, if the entrance of 

 others is prevented, a quiet night will be enjoyed. Un- 

 fortunately, this is a costly substance, selling at fifty 

 cents a pound ; but a little goes a long way, as it is very 

 fine and light and floats in the air. For rooms in 

 houses, and e323ecially kitchens, it is indispensable once 

 it has been used, as the flies may all be destroyed in the 

 evening and more kept out at least for a few hours in 

 the morning ; and a house may be freed from flies by 

 keeping it dark through the day, for the pests always 

 make for the light. A tame bat, which we first found 

 hanging in its usual way to the cord behind a picture, 

 and which now stays with us, clears the rooms at night 

 of every fly. During the night it goes from room to 

 room, the doors being left open for it. It will be found 

 better to encourage these harmless creatures in this w^ay 

 to enter the house and stable than to attack them with 

 brooms and kill them, to the eminent risk of destroying 

 glassware and mantel ornaments. 



But all the flies cannot be got rid of ; some will remain 

 in spite of all endeavors. For these, when milking, we 

 keep a sheet, which is thrown over the back of the cow, 

 and that prevents the lashing of the tail and the kicking 

 which is so disagreeable and risky for the milk pail. A 

 little bundle of horse-hair, tied to the end of a light 

 handle, is a part of the milking utensils, and lies handy 



