The Green Forest tribune., 1917-11-30


 dipping of cattle was first used In Alabama by a federal inspector in 1909 He modified the large vats previously used in oil dipping of animals in interstate commerce previous to 1909. Swabbing and spraying by hand 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 or private vats were available in ten Southern states. The work in 33667S square miles of territory was supervised by PIP inspectors of the bureau of animal industry; 351 state inspectors and 1,2O9 county inspectors
 powerful aid in the tick fight has been the passage of state laws enabling effective federal cooperation. In 1906 when the first federal ap- propriatiOn to inaugurate plan of cooperation with states was made, such laws were in exis- tence in only Southern states-Virginia, 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 com pletey free.
 Federal cooperation does not mean that the national government builds the vats nor supplies the money and materials with which to "dip the tick" and kill 1t. But it does fnean that the bu- reau of animal industry of the United States de- partment of agriculture furnishes trained men to QlDp1ng show the pie of any county how to make beginning Ap- 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 a 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 a- most any price the buyer chooses to pay; and closes the door to importation of better stock to improve the quality of a herd for cattle brought into ticky country easy and luscious prey for the tick.
 Many Cattle Raisers 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 are enhanced in value about S10 head, weigh one-ffth heavier, grade one-fourth better and are safe from cattle fever and from shrinkage on account of ticks. The letters also show that where the tick is dipped out the South cattle industry is growing, that there is more improved blood that the milk yield of cows is in- creased about one-fourth and that there is an in- , crease of forage crops and silos.
 Here are some reasons 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 domesticated animals cat tie are 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 it's allies in the war; (3) 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 a negligible item in most states because of depres- sion 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 few years From the areas released from tick domina- ton and quarantine will go forth to the still infested not only the inspiration of accomplish ment, but also the practical help of the federal inspectors released from work in the counties just freed and ready for labors in fields.