REPELLENTS FOR PROTECTING ANIMALS FROM FLIES. 11 



Kerosene mixed with cottonseed oil or in the form of an emulsion 

 may be used for repelling flies. Spencer (1904), at the Virginia 

 station, used an emulsion of kerosene in a special spraying apparatus 

 for destroying the hornfly. The formula and method followed in 

 preparing the emulsion are given below : 



Yellow soap— \ pound. 



Soft water 1 gallon. 



Kerosene oil 2 gallons. 



Shave the soap fine and dissolve in water at boiling temperature. 

 Place the kerosene in a barrel, add the hot-soap solution, and by 

 means of a spray pump agitate for 15 to 20 minutes, or until emulsi- 

 fication is complete. One gallon of water is added to prevent the 

 solution becoming thick. This is a stock solution and should be 

 diluted in the proportion of 1 to 5 of water. The diluted emulsion 

 tends to separate, so only the amount needed should be diluted each 

 time. 



It is stated that at the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station 

 daily sprayings for a period of two weeks reduced the hornflies to 

 a point of insignificance. The flies were killed in passing through 

 the spray. 



A milk emulsion of kerosene may be made as follows : To 1 part of 

 milk add 2 parts of kerosene and mix by means of a force pump, or 

 in some other way. The creamy emulsion that results is to be diluted 

 with 8 or 10 times the bulk of water. 



Mayer (1911 ) found that laurel oil applied to the skin of cattle and 

 horses repelled the flies. The oil produced an inflammation of the 

 skin in some of the tests. The oil applied to bedsores of horses re- 

 pelled the flies and produced no change in the sores. 



Laurel oil and linseed oil in the proportions of 1 to 10 repelled 

 flies from a bedsore on the foreleg of a horse for five days. The 

 entire right side of a horse was rubbed with the oil. No flies were 

 seen on the right side and great numbers were present on the left 

 side. The action lasted for 12 days. A light application of oil to a 1 

 horse was effective for only two days. This mixture oroduced no 

 inflammation of the skin. 



The following mixture was also tested by Mayer: Laurel oilifl 

 part; dilute alcohol, 4 parts; and olive oil, 5 parts. ^ In' place; of, 

 dilute alcohol denatured alcohol with water may be used,* and ;nr 

 place of olive oil linseed oil may be used. The mixture was tried "on 

 horses, but the results were not so good, as the mixture did not stick. 

 The action lasted five days. 



Eancid oil should not be used on account of its irritating action.' 



