The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-15
HOW TICK ERADICATION PAYS.
The South Simply Cannot Afford
Longer to Tolerate This Most Scri-
GUS Livestock Pest.
Progressive L Farmer.

Progressive Farmer.
Every county should organize a
livestock association, elect a president,
VINO is not afraid of making enemies
or the opponents Of tick eradication
and who will appear before every
grand jury to encourage the work,
and insist on the grand jury recon-
mending sufficient appropriations Of
FUNDS to successfully prosecute tick
eradication, and also have the grand
jury incorporate in it's general pre-
sentiments its approval of the work.
In this way there will be less expense
and less friction incurred than would
otherwise be the case.
The recommendation Of the grand
jury have more effect than at first
appear. Opponents Of tick eradica-
ton serving on the jury, who would
otherwise oppose the work, are there
after silenced by acts Of the ma
jority. believe each county would
save money and time by furnishing
the arsenic cattle dip free Of cost to
the farmers.
There is encouragement in the sta
tistics of Putnam County, Georgia.
We had by actual count 1854 head
of cattle. OF these 80 per cent were
tick-infested, and to add to our diff
culties rs per cent of the cattle were
owned by tenants.
We have spent to December 81,
1913, $3,7S1.37, and l calculate we
have saved in 1911, $4,000; 1912.
$4,000; 1913, $4,000. Total s12,-
600. Twelve Thousand dollars saved
from an expenditure of $3,7S1.S7
during the active work in tick eradi-
cation, and we shall never lose a dol
lar from ticks hereafter. Here is
economy and yearly saving expressed
in dollars even during the most ex-
pensive period of the. work. After
the work is done, We have, as you will
have, more cattle than ever before,
better cattle. each head worth more.
Every animal butchered hereafter will
give fever-free beef. better food, as
well as more wholesome. Even the
hides from ticks are worth more
for leather.
Every dairy cow will produce more
milk, more butter, and every calf
will come into the world with
stronger bones and constitution.
Cattle after tick eradication will be-
come better asset in the banks.
Cattle are financially more liquid in
Putnam County, where we have a
cooperative creamery, than are mules.
With the cattle tick exterminated,
any bank or individual may advance
money to an honest farmer to buy
cattle, regardless of his financial
standing. Bovines grow more valu-
able per head, and increase in num-
bers. Men that banks could not safe
ly assist with money to plant cotton,
may be, indeed, have been, loaned
money without loss to the lender, and
with great benefit to the borrower.
The man who will not assist in sup
porting such beneficient, practicable,
economical work for his county as
tick eradication, can be compared
only to the man who will not play a
hose charged with water on a burn
ing house, thereby to extinguish the
fire. The pestiferous cattle tick is
not native parasite. 1t was brought
into Georgia by Spanish cattle driven
from Florida nOrthward. The South
cannot, must not, remain handi-
capped with such an unnecessary per-
niciOus burden.
B. w. Hunt.
EatOnton, Ga.