Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-30

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thoughtful farmer the material advan-
tages which the south offers for live
stock production in the matter Of de-
sirabIe climate. 81 abundance OF suit
able food. and q well-watered country.
The average man from the north and
west On his initial visit TO the south
L astonished to ind 50 many advan-
sages for this industry evidenced on
every hand and 10 witness so little
progress In its development The cause.
however. to one who has studied the sit
uation Is not Tar TO seek and Is not
attributable as some have thought TO
the lack OF enterprise or appreciation
or the value Of stock farming on the
part OF thousands OF our most progress
agricultural records show numerous In
PRODUCTIONS OF pure-bred stock In fact,
large numbers OF the choicest animals
brought into the United States a. q
comparatively early period 81 our history
came directly to the south. but for some
reason. which was not understood al
that time. they all met the same fate.
which was a rapid and almost complete
determination. For years various reasons
were advanced IN explanation OF the
trouble. but finally il was definitely de-
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ton OF the animals by what Is now
known a. the cattle tick For 4 long
time this parasite has held In check the
development OF q live stock industry
commensurate with the needs OF the
south. and Is sVin doing it in those
states where measures looking TO It's
eradication have not been commenced
Fortunately fer the south nearly all
or the states are now al work. and
Georgia has already cleaned Up some
or her infected counties and Is actively
st work on q number Of others which
Il Is believed viii be released from
quarantine In the next few years
What the destruction OF the tick means
10 the live stock industry few can pic
ture. but those who have studied the sit
uation know fun wen that il Is costing
our state In the neighborhood OF 100000
annually, and that we cannot build up
= cattle business until the tick Is com
rletely vanquIshed. OF course. there are
many yet who think that the tick is
not the real cause OF bloody murain.
Texas fever. red wa<er. etc, names To-
cally given TO the trouble resulting from
infestatfon O. cattle BY tbs parasite
Those who are stfil in q doubtful posi-
ton might as well surrender gracefully,
for the Investigations made relative 10
the relation OF the tick to the destruc-
ti0n OF cattle have been so thorough,
complete and exhaustive as 70 leave no
gorund for further doubt.
A few OF the ways n which the tick
injuries cattle win now be considered
When II attacks the cattle a germ en-
tiers the blood and increases In number
until trey destroy the greater part OF
the red corpuscles. This. Of course.
lowers the vitality and restricts the
= -
Of milk cows, the flow OF milk is ma
membered represents tire surplus energy
and vitality OF the COW. and any agency
which reduces these lessons the ability
10 give milk The loss TO the dairy In
sustry on this account is very great
and. IN fact has done more TO hold It in
check than anything else. When ticks
attack fatrening animals. they lengthen
the time required for development ana
for maturity. and hence Increase the
cost OF beef production The presence
Of the cattle tick prevents efrectualiy
the bringing In OF high grade. pure-bred
animals for the Improvement OF our ma
tive stock The word effectually . used
adviseaIy for any animal which Is
brought into . section where ticks are
found and has not had the fever viii
suffer from an attack. and the chances
are Il will die. At least this has been
the history Of importations up to the
present time. As . matter Of fact, our
native animals are OF low grade. Civ
ing but a comparatively small yield OF
milk, maturing slowly. and not produc-
ing the quantity and quality OF meat
desirable in animals or the beef-produc-
ing type These characters can only
Be changed through the use OF pure-bred
sfres. and htey cannot be freely import
ed until the tick Is destroyed
- q result Of the presence Of the
cattle tick in the south. animals in non
infested country have improved much
more rapidly than those in the tck-in-
tested regions. and arrangements must
De made BY which they can be brought
into the south In orer 10 build up our
I've stock Then, there i a final loss
which IL a very serious one Animals
from tick country are put in quarantine
pens where they command lower prices
than animals from the north for rea-
sons stated above. This often amounts
% IS much as 50 o head. or anywhere
from $50 TO SO q car When one con-
ssders the large number OF animals rear
ed IN the south. the extent OF this loss
becomes appalling.
In conclusion. IL Is well to consider
briefly something about the tick and
methods devised for accomplishing Its
destruction First OF all. the host OF the
tick Il the COW or other animals OF the
bovine species, and II the ticks can
be kept from getting on their hosts. they
will starve to death. This being true.
methods OF eradication have been de-
w1sed which have proven very effective
when put into practical operation These
are briefly as follows: Pick the ticks
from animals before they have obtained
their growth This prevents a new crop