The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1915-07-08


Arkansas, ali more or less tick-in- |
tested the average price was be-
low $50.
Such differences are too striking
to be ignored. They represent an
animal loss to the farmers of the
South Of millions Of dollars. The
Georgia farmer may expect to re-
ceive SIS for his beef animal, the
Ohio farmer S56. Kentucky, Kansas,
and Indiana men. $56 For ten
tick-infested States, North Carolina,
South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana. Ar
kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, the
general average is $3.50; for the
remainder of the country it is $4847.
In considering these figures it
must be borne in mind that many
Of the States in the tick country
have succeeded in freeing large area
from the pest. Otherwise, the diff
ference in value undoubtedly would
be much greater. A great deal of
North and South Carolina, for in
stance, is as free from ticks as Ohio
or Indiana. Oklahoma also h S
grappled so vigorously with the pest
and has cleaned so much of it's ter
ritory that the average value for
cattle has risen to S42 a head. In
Florida, on the other hand, where
10 systematic work has yet been
done, the average is SIS.
One reason for the low value of
Southern cattle is unquestl onably
the disasterous effect of the tick
upon al attempts to improve the
breed. Pure-bred stock imported
for breeding purposes are exposed
; to such danger Of death from tick
feyer that it is not sound business
TO incur the risk. Producers are,
therefore, compel to do the best
. they can with the native cattle,
which have acquired a certain de-
gree of immunity. That there IS
no profit in scrubs is an old cattle
5 raieec's maxim and in this connec-
: tion a comparison Of average
: weights Of beef cattle may be inter-
esting.
In Florida, on January !, 1915, it
was $40 pounds; in Wyoming, 9S5;
in Idaho, 966; in Montana, 938. In
Mississippi it was $50; in Alabama,
500; in Louisiana. Al; il Georgia,
41o. Out side of the tick country,
Connecticut was the one State TO
fall below 500 pounds.
There are, Of course, other factors
than the tick in the raising Of beef IN
: the South. but in view + these
figures, it IS hard to escape
; from the conclusion that wherever
: the tick is, there the value Of cattle
is low.
It fellows, also, that the farmer
: makes little effort TO develop this
source Of profit or what would be
a source of profit under other Cir
. cun1stances. Not only does he him
self suffer financially in consequence
J directly from loss Of income, and
! Indirectly through loss Of soil fer
! tiiity-but the whole country suffers
: from an inadequate meat supply.
For this reason, the Federal gov
J arment is as yitally interested II
J. the work cf tick eradication, as
J it is in the suspicion Of hog cholera
} and the prevention Of tuberculosis
t throughout tick-infested territory
wherever the people have voted tc
K free themselves from the tax the
q pest levies upon them, Federal in
/. spectors are cooperating with tht
!. IocaI authorities and organizations II
y the erection Of watts and the super
= vision CT regular systematic dlpp
L inr. AS fast as territory is cleaned
Z the quarantine is removed from i
!" ara stock owners il the communli,
"a thus enabled to market the cattle oi
= an equal footing with stock frcn
Is other sections of the country. 4
has already b 4 q, 253, rs
i square miles have iJaen freed N tn
- way since the beginning Of the wof
ii 1906. and in addition much use
ii frl York has been done in area
a5 still under quarantine WITHIN II
re teen years, II the same rate Ct pre-
~ rroes is maintained, the entire couF
- trv should he free and tlcky cattle
forgotten evil But there IS ever
8 reason to believe that as the ev
n t3snce against the tick piles up, Pre-
.a oress viii become more and NOR
of rand. It car not be too rapid 10
fha go ID Of the entire country.