The Monticellonian., 1917-11-30


 about 1907. The small dipping vat for arsenical dipping of cattle first used in Alabama by federal inspector in 1909. He modified the large vats previously used in oil dipping of animals in interstate commerce previous to 1909 Swabbng and spraying by hand were the methods gen erally used in the eradication work. The vat method has been found to be not only effective and speedy, but to be comparatively inexpensive
 In September, 1917 21,095 public private yats available in ten Southern states. The work in 336,67S square miles of territory was supervised by 272 inspectors of the bureau of animal industry 351 state inspectors and 1209 county inspectors.
 A powerful aid jn the tick fight has been the passage of state laws enabling effective federal cooperation. In 1906, when the first federal np proprtation to inaugurate plan of cooperation with states made, such laws in eXis- tence in only seven Southern states-Nirgina. North Carolina, Georgia Kentucky Tennessee Oklahoma and California. Since then laws have been enacted in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. The only state affected by ticks and missing from this list Is Missouri, in which only four counties were infected in 1906, and which is con- pletey free
 Federal cooperation does not that the national government builds the yats supplies the money and materials with which to "dip the tick" and kill 1t. But 1t does that the bu- of animal industry of the United States de- pertinent of agriculture furnishes trained men to supervise the work of dipping and show the peo- pie of any county how to make beginning. Alp preciation of this cooperation is shown by the. fact that every state and most counties in the tick regions have appropriated public moneys to take advantage of the scientific and practical knowl- edge placed at their disposal by the federal gov ernment
 To survey adequately the benefits from tick eradication glance must be taken at the baneful effects of infestation. Cattle not only die from the fever transmitted by the tick but they lose greatly in blood, meat, milk production and reproductive power. The ticks suck the blood that should go to make beef and milk; prevent sale of infested cattle outside the quarantine area except for immediate slaughter and at al- most any price the buyer chooses to pay and closes the door to importation of better stock to improve the quality of herd. for cattle brought into ticky country easy and luscious prey for the tick.
 Many Cattle Rasers Praise Fight Against Tick.
 Benefits from tick eradication are told in hun dreds of letters received annually by the bureau of animal industry. The consensus of opinion in these letters indicates that the average cattle freed of ticks enhanced in value about $10 n head, weigh one-ffth heavier, grade one-fourth better and safe from cattle fever and from shrinkage account of ticks The letters also show that where the tick is dipped :he South ern cattle industry is growing that there is more improved blood. that the milk yield of cows is n- creased about one-fourth and that there Is an h. crease of forage crops and silos.
 Here are why in the opinion of department of agriculture officials tick eradica- tion is important especially at the present time, and why the fight half won must go on to complete victory:
 CD Good agriculture is dependent upon animal husbandry and of the domestcated animals cat tie the leaders for fertilizer purposes; (2) the supply of beef Is not keeping pace with the de- mand and must be increased to meet the needs of America and its allies In the war; f3) cotton production, menaced by the boil weevil, must be kept up by cattle fertilizer and must be supple mented by cattle raising in order that the cattle farmer may thrive and be able to raise cotton at all {4) the cattle business of the South long q negligible item in most states because of depres- sion caused by the ticks be made the equal of that of any country.
 The progress made far in tick eradication Is taken mean that every square mile in the South will be freed from the cattle tick within few years. From the released from tick domlna- ton and quarantine will forth to the areas still infested not only the inspiration of accomplish ment but also the practical help of the fede-al inspectors released from work in the counties just freed and ready for abors in fields.