to the Extension office concerning
the control of poultry lice which
have become prevalent in some of
the poultry flocks in the Valley.
Some flocks have been maintained
free from lice for a number of i
seasons, then a stray fowl has come
into a flock or new birds have
been bought and added to the home
flock. It takes only a short time
for lice to spread through a flock
and it is more complicated to e
radicate the lice. There are num
erous ways in which lice may be
controlled; however, the recommend
ed procedure is the painting of the
roosts with Black Leaf 40, or bet
ter knov/n as nicotine sulphate, a
short time before the birds go to
roost. The fumes from the nicotine
sulphate work in among the feathers
and kill the lice. Several ap
plications on the roost may be nec
essary before it is possible to get
the lice under control. If Black
Leaf 40 is not available, sodium ;
fluoride may be used very effect
ively. In treating poultry with
odium fluoride, a remarkable de
gree of control is obtained, but
every bird must be feiven an ap
plication at the same time sc that
the lice may all be destroyed at
once. One bird not treated will
soon spread lice to the other mem
bers in the flock. Sodium fluo
ride may be applied as a dust or as
a dip. It does not work as rapid
ly as Black Leaf 40, Sodium Fluo
ride should be dusted on the birds
under the wings, on the back, on
the breast, and below the vent.
Some difficulties have also been
encountered this winter with lice
on cattle. An aninr.l infested with
lice, especially a calf, often
gives an unthrifty appearance and
when present in wreut numbers keep
the animal from gaining as it
should. In warm weather, the lice
can be killed by washing with nic
otine dips or lime sulphur. How
ever, in the winter, the danger of
chilling and pneumonia makes it
more difficult to control. The
best plan for keeping down lice in
ie winter is to dust the individ
ual frequently and dust the infect
ed part as often as necessary with
borax or pyrethrum powder. In ap
proximately half an hour after ap
plying the powder around the cal
ves, all surplus powder should be
brushed off the Individuals so
they will not fcet it in their
mouths by licking.
it
Seed germination tests are being
conducted at the Extension' office
with interesting results. Often a
misconception of the percentage of
germination is had by the grower.
However, the average percentage of
germination f < r gob'’’ seed of dif
ferent vegetables may be 65$ to
100$. Parsnips may germinate 65$
and be an excellent result, while
an average germination for cabbage
is near 80$. If you find it nec
essary to take two or three year
old seed, do not hesitate as many
garden seeds germinate very satis
factorily for several years. Two,
three, and four year old seeds
often will have an average germ
ination. The aging of the seed
und ubtedly will eliminate many of
the week seed from germinating at
all. I/.uch of the seed on the mark
et this year will be either old
seed or produced this last year.
The big surplus supply of seed
which the seed producers in the
States have had on hand has been
rapidly diminished under the lend
lease program.
Harry DeLand has been confined to
the hospital for a few days with
a septic sere throat,
Ben Ezi, Helen Kcozaata, and Alice
Brown have been admitted tc the
hospital as patients.
Future occupants of the Women's
Ward will appreciate the ct eerful
atmosphere, for it has been com
pletely redecorated. The walls
are enameled a peach shade, the
woodwork, ivory, and the floors
have been waxed.
Pastor and Mrs Harold Wood &re in
the Valley on hospital business and
will be here for another we :.\i. or
so.
Dr. Bernice Andrews arrived in the
Valley Friday afternoon to stay
permanently. She will not practice
for several months, and is locking
forward to taking some well earned
rest.
Remember School election on March
6th. We have heard that Mrs. H.
Moore and Mrs. Frank Linn will be
candidates.