The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-25
and 1909 county inspec-

A powerful aid In the tick fight
has been the passage of state laws
enabling effective federal co-opers
ton. In 1906, when the first federal
appropriation 10 Inaugrate a plan OF
/ cooperation with states was made,
such laws we're In existence in only
seven southern ststes---Virgints North
carolina Georgia. Kentucky. Ten
pessee Oklahoma. and California
since then laws have been enacted in
Alalama. Arka nsas. Florida. Itouisi-
ana, Mississippi. South Carolina, and
Texas. TA@ only state affected by
ticks and missing from this list is
Missouri, In which only four coun-
ties were infected in 1906, and which
tn now completely free
Federal co operation does not mea
that the national government builds
the watts nor supplies the money and
materials with which to dip the
tick and kin 1t. But IT does mean
| that the bureau Of animal Industry Of
the United states department of sgri~
culture furnishes trained men to sup
ervise the work Of dipping and show
the people of any county how to make
a beginning. Appreciation of.this ca
operation is shown by the fact that
every state and most counties In TIE
! tick regions have appropriated pub
lie moneys to take advantage OF the
scientific and practical knowledge
placed at their disposal by the feder-
/ al government.
To sdrN ely adequately the benefits
: from tick eradication II glance must
i be taken at the haneful effects of In
festation. Cattle not only die from
the fever transmitted by the tick hut
they lose greatly IN blood. meat, milk
a
The ticks suck the blood that should
60 tn make beef and milk. pre-
vent sale OF infested cattle outside
the quarantine area except for i'm
mediate slaughter and at almost any
price the buyer chooses to pay, and
closes the door TO importation OF bet
ter stock to improve the quality OF Il
! herd, fer new cattle brought into
/ tick country are easy and luscious
J prey for the tick.
/ Marry Cattle Raiscrs Praise Fight
BENEFITS from tick eradication are
/ told in hundreds of lettera received
annually by the bureau of animal In
dustry. The consensus of opinion in
these letters indicates that on the
average cattle freed OF ticks are en-
HANGED In value about $40 a head,
/ weight one-tifth heavier. grade one
fourth better and are safe from cat
tie fever and from shrinkage Oh ac-
count Of ticks The letters also show
that where the tick is dipped out the
southern cattle industry IN growing,
that there IS more improved blood,
I that the milk WELD of cows Is increased
about one-fourth and that there is an
/ Increase of forage crops and stlos,
/ Here are some reasons why. in the
! opinion of department OF agriculture
j officials, tick eradication il important,
especially at the present time, and
why the fight now half won must go
on to complete victory;
! ~ Good griculture is dependent
upon animal husbandry. and OF tho
/ concentrated animals cattle are the
! leaders for fertilizer purposes.
/ (2) The supply of beef is not keep
! Ing pace with the demand and must
he Increased TO meet the needs of
America and the allies In the war,
| (3) Cotton production, menace6
! by the boil woevil. must be kept up
by cattle fertilizer and must be sup
plamented bv cattle raising in order
that the cattle farmer may thrive and
he able TO raise cotton at all:
a. The cattle business or the
South, long a negligible item in most
states because Of depression caused
/ by the ticks. can be made the equal of
that OF any country.
The progress made so far IN tick
! eradication is taken to mean that
every square mile in the South Will
be freed from the cattle tick within
n few years. From the areas released
from tick domination and quarantine
will go forth to he areas still infested
not only the inspiration of accomplish 60
ment hut also the practical help of the
federal inspectors released from work
in the counties just freed and ready
for laOors In now fields.