The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-05

ton of the stock law in the State the
range was free to all cattle, and hence
all cattle became infested with ticks,
except in the mountain and adjacent
Piedmont region, where the winters
we're too severe for their survival.
Since the adoption of the stock law
in all the middle belt of the State
some curious results are to be noted.
the ticks have almost disappeared,
entirely so where care has been taken,
the cattle have lost the faint of
poison and are now subject to the
dangers of infestation as are the
mountain cattle when brought into
contact with cattle infested. This
result has been brought about almost
without knowledge of the cattle
owners. As a consequence serious
losses have occurred, the cause of
which is entirely inexplicable to the
owners. This state of affairs, to-
gether with the increased value of
cattle within the tick fever territory,
makes it desirable to rid the State,
as far as possible, of ticks. To this
end the State Department of Agri-
culture, in conjunction with the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, has undertaken the work of
cleaning up another district to be
added to the exempted territory of
the mountain counties. This new dis
trict comprises the three western
townships of Mcdowell county,
Broad River, Crooked Creek and Old
Fort, and all that portion of Nc
Dowell and Burke north of the
Catawba river, Caldwell and Surry
counties, and that portion Of Wilkes
north of the Yadkin river.
If this effort proves successful it
will give encouragement to all the
State, certainly to that portion IN
der stock law to make a united and
determined effort to rid their cattle
of their greatest plague, thereby
giving the owners and dealers access
to Northern markets, and of thus
adding thousands and hundreds of
thousands of dollars in value to the
cattle interests of the State, and
further encouraging the Introduction
and raising of improved breeds of
stock. A quarantine line, wherever
located, will occasion more or less
annoyance and vexatiOus ~hindranCeS
in the movement of cattle of all
kinds along the line. 1t would be
far better, asst is entirely practicable
with intelligent and united effort, to
SO rid the country of the disease
producing ticks, a to render, in time,
the quarantine restricts unnecessary,
in order to prevent splenic fever. [
am presenting this cattle problem at
some length, because of its great i'm
pOrtance, and because also OF the
vacancy in the office of State veter-
marian. To DR.. Cooper Curtice,
some time State Veterinarian, are we
due for most of the work accom-
plished in the solution of the prob
lem. DR.. Curtice did most valuable
service on this subject, in connection
with the Bureau of Animal Industry
OF the United States Department of
Agriculture, and was especially ser
viceable in bringing the best meth
DDS, aided by long experience and
high skill, to bear on the conditions
in this State. Unfortunately for
Us, DR.. Curtice resigned his office Il
few months since, in order to accept
the chair of biology in Il New Eng
land college. The enforcement of
the quarantine regulations is wisely
placed in the hands of the Board of
Agriculture, with certain police
powers, and with authority to estab-
lish and change lines and districts as
needs and conditions may require,
and as may be necessary for full CO.
operation with the Federal authOri-
ties. Statutes fixing quarantine lines
have never proved satisfactory in
accomplishing their purpose.
Many farmers make a serious
mistake in leaving their unfinished