The Florida agriculturist., 1907-07-24

raising improved cattle. Of course,
nothing can be done towards getting
clear of ticks so long as the cattle
are allowed to run at large in the
woods But those who keep them in
pastures can control the tick and finally
get clear of them by following the
directions given by A. D. Melvin, Of
the United States Bureau of Animal
Industry, which are as follows:
The destruction Of ticks which are
on cattle and premises is the first step
in procuring a free cattle traffic. The
following suggestions are therefore
made for the purpose of assisting own
ers of small numbers Of ticky cattle
to get rid of the fever ticks:
The term 'ticks," as here used, is
especially applied to the fever ticks
(Boophilus annulatus). These ticks
are the more abundant in the latter
part of summer and fall, the other
kinds being rarely present after the
months of July. All ticks are harm
full, however, and should be destroyed
The term "cattle" should be under
stood to include all COWS, steers, bulls,
heifers, yearlings, calves and oxen.
Tick-free premises are those in which
there have been no ticky animals for
nine months previously.
Cattle and premises may be freed
from ticks by hand-picking the cattle,
even though they are allowed to run
on tlcky premises, provided they are
controlled and no other animals are
permitted on the premises. The meth
cd OF hand-plck1ng and greasing is
most suitable in cases where there are
but few animals, or for small herds
where the conditions for grazing can
not be changed. The method consists
in carefully examining all the cattle
daily and picking or scraping off the
ticks. In this connection it must be
remembered that horses and mules
sometimes carry ticks, and therefore
these animals must also be thoroughly
and frequently examined and the ticks
removed. The greatest care must be
exercised to collect and destroy all Of
the ticks removed. 1t is true that while
this process is going on the animals
will get more ticks on them if the
premises are ticky; but by diligently
destroying all the larger ticks the sup
ply finally gives out on account Of the
seed ticks having perished.
Arrange to examine all the cattle
and pick the ticks at least every other
day. All parts of the animals, especial
ly the insides and back parts of the
thighs should be examined for ticks.
If any of the cattle are difficult to
handle, they should be driven into
chute or narrow pen made for the
purpose and where good light is afford
ed. Ticks can be seen best in sunlight,
Ticks must not be thrown on the
ground, but should be placed in tin
cans or other convenient vessels and
carried to a suitable place and burned,
or otherwise totally destroyed, or they
will lay eggs, and seed ticks will hatch
in countless numbers. Begin now to
pick ticks, and be sure that not single
ticks natures on your cattle after Sep
tember I. AS result of your trou-
bic III observing the precautions here
in dictated during this summer and fall,
the cattle and premises should be free
from ticks by April I.
To assist in preventing ticks from
getting on cattle the cattle may be
creased at the time of picking or as
often as may seem to be necessary.
The greasy solution is obnoxious to
the ticks, and if the legs are treated
in this manner, the ticks will be less
apt to crawl on them.
In greasing cattle, use Beaumont
crude petroleum or any crude oil,
cotton-seed oil, fish oil, or lard. The
following mixture will be found use
ful for this purpose: One gallon of
kerosene, one gallon of cotton-seed
oil, and one pound of flowers of sui
phur. Any of the above may be ap-