To Destroy Flies
Boil the parings of potatoes in a little water for an hour, skim them out, and boil the water down to a few table-spoonfuls. Sweeten with molasses, and turn on to plates. It is a deadly poison. Another method is to boil quassia chips to a strong decoction, sweeten and proceed as above.
Source: Household Hints and Recipes, Henry T. Williams
To Keep Flies Out of a Room
Put a few drops of oil of lavender on a sponge placed in a saucer of hot water. This will give out a scent which flies dislike. If you do not wish to try it in the house, put the sponge on a table on the porch if the flies are troublesome there.
Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames
To Get Rid Of Flies
Sprinkle all breeding places with a mixture of crude petroleum and water.
Source: 1001 Household Hints, Ottilie V. Ames
To Prevent Horses being Teased by Flies
Boil three or four handfuls of walnut leaves in a gallon of water, and before the horse goes out in the morning, bathe with it.
Source: Valuable Receipts, J.M. Prescott
To Destroy Flies
Strong green tea, sweetened well, and set in saucers about the places where they are most numerous, will attract and destroy them. This plan is much to be preferred to the use of those horrible fly-papers, which catch the poor insects alive, cruelly torturing them while starving them to death.
Source: Cassell’s Household Guide