Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-11
RANGE FIRES DO NOT ExTERMI
NATE TEXAS FEVER TICK.


Contrary 10 a widespread belief the
United States depar,ment OF agricu-
| tire does not consider he burning
over OF national forest lands as an
| effective means Of dealing with he
cattle tick and the dreaded fever whicD
1t spreads. This Is set forth by Sec
retary Wilson in the following pas
sages of a recent letter to Represer-
taiive Floyd. of the Third Arkansas
district;
II have just received communica-
tion from Dr. Cooper Curtice. veteri
nary inspector Of the bureau of animal
industry of this department, setting
forth certain opinions respecting the
burning of forests and ranges to de
stroy ticks which infest cattle and
transmit diseases, in which the de
partment fully concurs. DR.. Curtice
has had many years experience with
the department, is one OF the original
investigators of the fever tick. and
has probably had more experience in
this line of work than any other sci
enlist. He has recently made a tour
through northern Arkansas and inves-
tigated the conditions which exist In
hat locality, and his observations are
therefore quite pertinent to the ques.
lion of conflict In the policies of the
bureau of animal industry and the for
est service. The observations of DR..
Curtice are. in effect, as follows:
1T is true that at certain times of
The year burning the grass on an en-.
closed field may remove the ticks
wherever the fire travels. but even
then many places remain unburned
and the owner depends on the fire
for eradication and consequently fails.
At meetings of cattle men and others
have been speaking against the prac.
tice OF burning over the forest ground
and have held that no work would be
saved in the process of eradication
because the cattle should necessarily
be treated according to some one of
The methods specified in Farmers bul-
letin No, $40 tMethods of Exterminat-
ing the Texas-Fever Tick) in order to
secure perfect results II is necessary
to remember in this connection that
there are many unburned places es-
pecially around the dwellings, barns
and other places where cattle lie.
Whenever the grass is repeatedly
burned, the roots become eventually
destroyed. the sweeter grasses give
way to the more resistant and finally
the latter perish. Not only does fire
destroy the scanty sod but in remov.
ing the leaves as protective cover
ing the hot sun of summer Is permit.
ted to dry the soil to a crust and con
tlnues the devastation. The best grass
saw was in a place where the young
q owth was at least three years old.
In so far as tick eradication Is con-
that the necessities of the work should
be quoted as being opposed to The
needs of the forest service. Firing the
leaves has not eradicated ticks, al
lh'NSH iDflpNNu lpl NtdINs luNituu III
being beneficial in The forest. it has
killed out the grasses and even the
new growth of trees. which so often
furnish in spring the only source of
nourishment-the buds upon which the
cattle may browse while the scanty
heritage grows.
Il have steadily advised that pas.
lures. meadows and growing crops be
provided, upon which the cattle could
be held and fed the year around. and
thus the need for using the range be
obviated, and the farmer, by securing
control of the feeding and breeding
factors, be able TO raise better cattle
for the markets. Under present con
ditionS the mountain farmers are say.
ing no manure, are making small
crops. and are raising "A very poor
quality of cattle and hogs by attend.
ing to better cultivation. diversified
crops, and feeding stock on the farm,
and abandoning the prejudicial burn
ing of the woods and range. they can
raise very high quality of live stock
and acquire better money crop than
they have heretofore held
From my observations and con.
versations with the farmers of the
Ozark forest, on my recent rip | am
led TO believe that they will take up
tick eradication as soon as they can
raise the necessary money. The legis.
lature meets in 1911 and they will
then ask for new scent district in
addition to state funds"