Vol. XVIII. No. 437. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



TICK DESTRUCTION. 



The standard formuhe as used by the Department for the 

 preparation of ert'ective washes for the destruction of ticks 

 on cattle are given in the Annual Report of the Department 

 of Agriculture, Jamaica, for the year ended March 31, 1918. 

 They ought to be useful in other islands as well, and are 

 reproduced below for general information. The results of 

 their use at the Government Stock Farm, Hope, are summed 

 up by the Director of Agriculture, Jamaica, as follows: — 



' During the past year the whole herd at Hope was 

 dipped sixteen times, or approximately every three weeks. The 

 materials used were 39i lb. arsenite of soda, and 89i BE), of 

 paranaph, costing £2 '2s. Qd. The average cost per head 

 of dipping cattle for the year was only 'Id. 



•It is rare to find licks on the cattle, and the regular 

 dipping is carried out lor preventive reasons. We have, 

 however, certain sources of chronic infection with ticks that 

 are at present insuperable, viz., ticks invading our pastures 

 along the line-fences from our neighbours' lands, and, sec- 

 ondly, ticks derived from hor.ses and mules. 



' The dipping of horses and mules in a cattle dipping 

 tank is somewhat risky, although we have passed some horse- 

 kind through the tank at Hope without disaster. 



' We have been forced to rely on the human element for 

 the control of the licks on our horsekind, by spraying, and 

 painting with " sheep- wash." As every lick that escapes the 

 vigilance of the men who look after the horsekind provides 

 2,000 more to keep up this plague, it is apparent that where 

 mixed stock are kept, the complete eradication of ticks on a 

 property in Jamaica is not possible. 



' At the same time, ticks that are derived from horse- 

 kind do not impart tick-fever, and they are therefore not 

 dangerous to cattle. 



' A remarkable feature of dipping is the way in which 

 long-haired cattle are completely treed from ticks. The use 

 of a dipping tank on a beef cattle pen would undoubtedly 

 enable a higher standard of English blood to be used to 

 advantage. Hitherto the long hair of the English breeds 

 was a most serious drawback, owing to the tick plague. 



'Where spraying is carried out, longhaired cattle must 

 be clipped to ensure the killing of larval ticks. With a 

 dipping tank this is quite unnecessary.' 



In connexion with the above, it may be noted that tick 

 fever is not known to occur in the smaller West Indian 

 Islands 



Paranaph and Ai-smu IVask. — The most economical 

 and effective source of arsenic for adding to paranaph for 

 the destruction of ticks on cattle is Commercial Arsenite of 

 Soda, 80 per cent. 



INSTRUCTIONS KOE USE. — W.IRNING. 



Arsenite of soda is a dangerous poison, and must be 

 careful h' guarded under lock andkey and kept in a receptacle 

 vinrked ■ Poison.' 



A. — Standard wash for use as a Spray: — 



1. Arsenite of soda 



2. Paranaph 



3. Water 



1 oz. 



2 quarts or -5 D&. 

 1 2 quarts. 



Dissolve \ B). of arsenite of soda in 2 quarts of water. 

 Cold water will suffice if some hours are allowed for the 

 powder to dissolve. Shake or stir at intervals. Some undis- 

 solved sediment will always remain. Store this solution of 

 arsenite of soda as Stock Solutii>it of Arsenite of Soda. 



For every mixing of paranaph at the rate of 2 quarts 

 or 5 B) of paranaph in 12 quarts of water, add one con- 

 densed milk tin (1 ft), size) full or filled to within h inch 



of the rim with the ' Stock Solution of Arsenite of Soda' 

 as described above. This quantity contains 1 oz. of arsenite 

 of soda. 



B. — Commerciai wash for use as a Spray (economical): — : 



1. Arsenite of soda 3i oz. 



2. Paranaph I ft). 



3. Water 10 gallons. 

 Dissolve the paranaph in the water, and - add 3i oz. of 



arsenite of soda or 3i condensed milk tins full of "'Stock 

 Solution of Arsenite of Soda.' Use tank or rain-water if 

 procurable. 



C. Dip for use in Dipping Tanks: — 



1. - Arsenite of soda 2 ft). 



2. Paranaph 3 ft). 



3. Water 100 gallons. 



EXPLANATORY NOTES. 



Formula A is the most efficient spray for cattle yet 

 tested at the Government Farm at Hope. It is somewhat 

 expensive, owing to the large amount of paranaph. Where 

 long haired stock have to be dealt with, a large proportion of 

 paranaph is required. 



Formula B. is a cheaper formula for the control of ticks 

 by spraying, where expense is a consideration. It is not so 

 efficient as A., but kills ticks very well for practical purposes 

 of control 



Formula C is the standard departmental liquid for use 

 in dipping tanks, and has been found highly efficient. 



HOME CURING OP BACON AND HAMS. 



The Imperial Department of Agriculture in its publica- 

 tions has pointed out for some time past the possibilities in 

 the West Indies of a large production of meat. In the last 

 few months trials have been made in some of the islands in 

 curing hams and bacon on a small scale for home consump- 

 tion. In Antigua, for instance, there are some housekeepers 

 now who regularly and successfully supply their homes them- 

 selves, and excellent hams and baons are turned out, as the 

 writer of this note can testify. 



The trouble in the past in salting meat in tropical coun- 

 tries has been that when put into the pickle it takes some days 

 before the salt can penetrate to the bone of the joint, and it 

 is just there that the meat begins to spoil, as it is apt to do 

 only too quickly in a high temperature. 



In Antigua, however, ic has been found that by using the 

 'Turley Meat Salter' the brine is inserted first right down to 

 the bone, and during the further processes of salting and 

 smoking, the meat remains perfectly fresh This instrument 

 is constructed on the principle of an ordinary medical hypo- 

 dermic syringe, only much larger and stronger. It is manu- 

 factured by T. J Turley, Owensboro, Kentucky, who states 

 in an advertisement recently received at this Office that the 

 price, with full directions, is $6 50 prepaid. He will doub^ 

 less give further information to anyone making inquiries. 



In 'Notes on the I'roducts of the Harar plateau 

 Abyssinia', published by the Poona Agricultural College 

 Lieutenant E. S. Corlett says that in that part of the world 

 to which the coffee plant is indigenous, its 'eaves are cut 

 and dried in the shade, being then sold as tea. Broken up 

 and boiled for a minute or so, they produce nn excellent 

 drink much resembling a mild tea. It is much esteemed by 

 the natives as a thirst quencher, especially^in the hot weather. 



