288 
Supplement lo the ' Tropical Agriculturist" [Oct. 1, 1901, 
can be found in the nesls free and coupled 
together, witli couiiUe-s eggs and quaii'iiie.' ol' 
exuvias and young foim-^, e.-pecial)y in straw 
nests. They are m<>t-t prolific, and cuii leman 
tor months wirhrmt, any fond ; hence tl;e reuinvMl 
of the bii'dn froni thb ru;is ibu-eless a> a remedy. 
The ova hutch rapidly. The ymng :a'e at fi sr, 
silvery white, «ith .-ix leg> lils^' a line iiis c. 
They moult iheir .-km a iiiimiier ,if :i..;e-. ilie 
exuvise or cast skins fonniuga \vhii'si)..r -:l.eiv 
powder often seen on the perche . A- ihe uii 
crrow older they became d;irker m col ur. Liglit 
and air are uistasleful to ihem ; dunp, dark, and 
badly-vei!til"ted roosts are where thi^y flourisli 
best. Breeding is especially rapid in .-priug and 
sumoier. This mite is often unobserved, owing 
to its strict nocturnai habits, and hence the 
cause of the fowls keeping backwards, and even 
dying, is not understood. Bi ds .--hould, when 
looking dejected and emaciaied, be ex imineil at 
ni»ht, and if mites are found treatment should 
be at once resorted to. Transmission to man 
and other animals is not unusual ; but, although 
the mi'.es for a time cause severe irritation, 
they will not remain for any length of time, 
and readily yield to treatment. Hens should 
not roost in stables and sheds where other 
animals are kept. 
Prevention and Treatment of Fleas, Lice, and 
]\iites. — Infestation is ahvay.s worse in dirty and 
neolecied runs and roots, and such are a standing 
danger to more cleanly ueighb ,urs. Cleanliness 
and freedom will always put these pests under 
a disadvantage — not only cleanliness of tlie 
nests, walls, and floor, but also of the ceilings 
and perches. To suppress these pests the houses 
should be cleaned down at least twice a year 
with a wash made of hot lime and soft soup, 
the ceilings, walls, and nests having a good 
coating ; tne wash should be fairly liquid, so 
as to run into every crack and crevice. To 
every gallon of lime- wash add ^ Jb. of soft soap, 
previously dissolved in boiling water. Early 
spring and autumn are the times for these appli- 
cations. The perches are best treated with boil- 
ing water and soft soap, or with an emulsion of 
kerosene. It is important that houses should 
be well builr, with as few cracks and cre'^ices 
as possible, for in such harbours these pests 
congregate and may escape from a ly wash used. 
Special attention should be paid to the nests ; 
they should be frequently cleaujed and changed 
to keep ofli fleas and other parasites. Neither 
nest-buxes nor perches should be fixed, relays 
of each should be at hand, so that they can be 
changed to ensure complete disinfection. The 
nesi-boxes should be now and then cleaned out, 
and dressed with hot lime. Either dusting the 
prepared nests with Persian insect powder 
thrum) or putting a little sawdust or sand soaked 
in napthaliue at the bottom will keep ofE these 
depredators. Wood-shavings, or wood wool, in 
the nests instead of straw is most beneficial. 
jMo lice or fleas will live in it owing to the aro- 
matic odour given off from the wood. Care of 
course musD be taken that the remedies employed 
do not affect the eggs with nest, Kegardiug the 
iafestation of thy birds themaclifcs, white preci- 
pitate seldom fails. The heads and necks of 
young cliicks should be early dressed very 
spaiuigly and repeated when necessary. Wtiite 
precipitate is a strong irritant pois )n, and 
need^ tne greatest Care in the Use, e-pecially in 
yuu.ig chick-. It is be^t obtained as an ointment 
fioiu the chemists. Hens -elected for biiDing 
>iMUi<l h ve a smill qut.iiiiy of this ointment 
ra llied 111 unUer liie veut, lie. id and sides, and then 
-ell lu.-ted sviih insect pOAder (pyretliruu). 
Si ting liens arc greatly tortured by puasite*, and 
their youuy are often Ijst by neglect of these 
simple piecautious. Dust baihs are the natural 
remedy for lice and miles, and fowl should never 
be kept without them. Sand and road dusi, 
mixed with a small quantity of paraffin will 
generally keep the birds free from vermin. 
In pLice of paiaflia Pyretlirum powder may be 
used with the dust. 
{To be concluded.) 
POTTING OF PLANTS. 
If new pots are to be used, be sure and seek 
them for several hours first, for unless the 
ottery liaii been wel moistened it will suck out 
pii moi.sture from the soil. Old pots are as good 
and even better than new, but they should be 
well washsJ inside and ciut before using again. 
Warm i'0;ip suds with a table spoonful of wash- 
ing toda dijsolved in it will wash the most 
soiled pot as clean as a new one. Fresh soil 
is the best for plants, and that which is obtained 
from under tue stiff, wiry sharp-looking grass 
is very fiue for use. Such tufts when well rotted 
make tiie best composts to mix wich garden 
loam, leaf mould, &c. A little sand is needed for 
nearly all plants as it keeps the soil light and 
lets the roots extend freely. Leaf mould should 
be prepared by every gardener by gathering 
the autumn leaves and piling them in a heap to 
decay. It is well to throw a little soil over them 
to prevent them from blowing away. In eighteeu 
months they are ready to use. Thoroughly 
decayed cow Aauure is also needful for healthful 
growth, and that collected in dry cakes in 
p.is'UM:'- piled up but kept dry for 12 months 
lb eXacciy to our purpose. Little bits of charcoal 
and coar.•^e gravel are of great use in preparing 
compost and potting plants. Put some bits of 
charcoal into the bottom of the pot, then a 
little fine straw or moss, and now add an 
equal mixture of loam leaf mould or cow 
manure and a sprinkling of sandy gravel. Shake 
this down well, wet it a little, and put in 
the plant, spreading out the roots as evenly 
as possible. Add more compost by degrees, 
pressing it firmly about the roots ; do this till 
the pot is nearly full. Sprinkle the whole sur- 
face of the leaves and shade for two or three 
days. For repotting give the earth in the pot a 
good wetting, then run a knife around the edge 
and spread tha fingers of the left hand over 
the soil, with the other hand turn the pot topsy 
turvy and a ball of earth will drop into your 
hand. If it does not fall out directly strike 
the edge of the pot against some hard substaace 
