Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1916-01-27
DEMONSTRATION WORK
IN TICK ERADICATION

Washington. D. c., Jan 20
AS a result of ten years exper'
fence in tick eradication, the
Federal officials in charge OF the
campaign are convinced that the
hearty cooperation of the people
themselves is absolutely essential
to success. The Department OF
Agriculture's representatives IN
the field, therefore, have been
warned of the danger of begin
ming systematic work in any
county before public opinion is
ready to lend vigorous support to
the enterprise. 1t frequently hap
pens that a few of the more pro-
gressive farmers are earnest adj
vocates of tick eradication, while
the rest of the community may
be either Indifferent or actually
hostile. In a number of instances
in the past when tick eradication
has been begun under these cir
cumstances it has been found
necessary, after two or three
years, for the Federal govern
ment to withdraw its men be-
cause the results of their work
were, to a great extent, nullified
by popular indifference. 10 make
success of eradication. all cattle
in the country must be dipped
regularly. In practice, this is only
possible when the great majority
of the people are SO strongly In
favor of the work that they will
insist upon the enforcement of the
necessary regulations.
Recent instructions sent out
from Washington to the men in
charge in the infested regions
directed them to procure list OF
voters in any county in which
there were manifestations of
local interest in tick eradication.
Circular letters and pamphlets ex-
planning the evil of the tick and
the possibility of its elimination
are then to be sent to this list.
The next step is to arrange for
practical demonstrations of dip
ping. Since the Federal depart
ment has no funds at its disposal
for the purpose, the construction
of demonstration watts must be
undertaken either by the local
authorities or by one or more
public-spirited and progressive
stock owners. The cost of build
ing a vat is comparatively small,
and It has been found that these
practical demonstrations are by
far the most effective method of
convincing farmers that the tick
can be eradicated without any
injury whatsoever to live stock.
AS soon as the watts are built, a
number of demonstrations should
be held in order to give all the
people of the country, an oppor-
tunity to see for themselves that
dipping does no injury to cattle.
There is a widespread belief
among the less informed stock
owners in the tick-infested re-
gions that the arsenic in the dip s
ping watts poisons cattle and dries
up mich cows. This erroneous
notion may be easily dispelled if
are made for hold ]
ing the dipped cattle on exhibit
ton for a few days.
After a series of such demon
meetings of farmers !
are held and the benefits of tick /
eradication explained. Ordin- c
arily, these meetings lead to the .
organization of county live stock
associations, which have been
found very influential factors in
promoting eradication. It is 9
customary for these associations Q
% apply to the County Board for
he materials for the watts and for
he chemicals used in the baths.
Until satisfactory arrangements
nave been made in this or some
similar Wav for thA construc.