The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-05
TEXAS FEVER TICKS
HOW TO FREE CATTLE AND
PASTURES OF THE PESTS.
Some Plain, Simple Directions That
Will be Found Effective if Given
Trial.

There are four practical methods
that may be employed in freeing cat
tie and pastures Of Texas fever ticks:
>(1) Picking OF brushing off the
ticks; (2) smearing or spraying the
animals with disinfecting solu-
ton; CD dipping the "ticky" anil
mails in vat containing solution
capable of killing the ticks without
injury to the cattle; (4) a syste-
matte pasture rotation whereby the
ticks are eliminated by changing the
cattle to one pasture after another,
allowing the ticks to drop off, and
preventing new ticks from getting
on the cattle.
In sections where there are large
herds and ranches, dipping or spray
ing on a large scale has been sue
cessfully carried out, either alone
or in conjunction with pasture ro-
tation, while in other sections, where
the cattle on farms consist of only
a few head, hand dressing with OIL
has been found to be the most prac-
tical plan. The methods above sus-
gested, therefore, apply to different
sections of the country, and the
stockman or farmer should select
the one which is best suited to his
particular case.
Picking or Brushing Off the Ticks.
Where the herd is small the ticks
may be picked off by hand or scrap
ed off with a dull knife or curry
comb. This should be done at least
three times week in order to re-
move all the large ticns before they
mature and fall off, as by this sys-
tenn the smaller ticks which at first
escape detection will be found be-
fore they are fully developed. Al
ter removal the ticks should be de-
stroyed, preferably by burning. care
should be taken to go over the AMI
mails thoroughly, and after once go
ing over they should not be neg
lected, as ticks may be picked up
from time to time. If this work is
thoroughly done and no ticks al
lowed to fall off and lay eggs from
June 1 to the end of November, the
cattle will be free from ticks and
the pastures clean.
Smearing or Spraying.
Greasing the animals all over
thoroughly with cotton-seed OIL
fish oil, or Beaumont crude petro-
leum will assist in preventing the
ticks from getting upon them and
destroy The ticks already on them.
This method is practicable when
only a. few animals are to be treat
ed. A mixture of l gallon OF ker-
osene, l gallon of cotton-seed OIL
and pound of sulphur has proved
effective when used two or three
times week during the tick sea-
son. 1t should be applied with
sponge, syringe, brush, mop or
broom.
Where a larger number Of cat
tie are to be treated, but not
though to warrant building vat,
spraying has given good results.
The necessary equipment consists or
a force pump such as is ueed by
orchardists for spraying trees, with
barrel in a wagon or on a plat
form and a hose with an ordinary
nozzle. A 20 per cent emulsion OF
Beaumont oil or S per cent solu-
ton of any Of the standard coal-tar
dips may be used. The spraying
should be continued throughout the
whole season and II thoroughly done
will leave the cattle and pastures
free for the following year.
Dipping in a Vat.
Where large number Of animals
are to be treated, dipping in vat Is
a convenient and effective method.
Beaumont crude petroleum is con-
sidered the most satisfactory dip
and may be used either alone or In
20 per cent emulsion. Animals
that have been dipped in the oil,
especially during warm weather,
should not be driven any great dis
tance Immediately afterwards, and
should be provided with shade and
an abundance of water.
This system of eradication appeals
to many farmers and should be fol-
lowed whenever practicable or con-
ditions will permit. 1t consists In
placing ticky animals in small pas
ture for a period of 20 days. Dur
ing that time a considerable number
of ticks will drop Off. Then trans
fer the cattle to a second small pas
ture for anther 90 days, and II all
Of the ticks have not dropped Off,
to still another pasture. II the full
time has been used, 60 days will
have been consumed and the stock
is then ready to We placed on tick
free pasture. The object OF moving
cattle from pasture to pasture at
intervals OF 90 days is to cause all
the ticks to drop off and at the same
time to prevent the animals from
becoming infested again with young,
or seed. ticks. Twenty days is less