Jf«;/ 2, 1908.J Agricultural Gazette of N.S. TV. 407 



tlirouLili tliL' economic collections in the Imperial Department of Agricul- 

 ture, made by Mr. Ballon, and obtained some typical specimens from 

 Mr. Bovell, Superintendent of Agriculture for Barljados, and also had 

 the pleasure of seeing Mr. Edwards' collections at Christchurch, and 

 Mr. Barnes' at Codrington College. 



Stock Diseases. 



In Santiago de Vegas I found that the fowl tick {Arrjas ameriraniis) was 

 very common wherever poultry were kept, and v/as generally distributed 

 over the island. In Jamaica it is also very common, and is proliably 

 widely distributed over the West Indies; but as there is little or no trade, 

 except for local consumption, nobody appears to take any trouble with 

 their poultry yards. 



The cattle tick (RhipicephaJus aitnitlatas) is common in Cuba both upon 

 cattle and horses, and any stock feeding upon open pastures are more or 

 less infested with them; but as a general rule little attention is paid to 

 them, though Dr. Mayo, at the Experiment Station, informed me that 

 the dei^artment are going to build several dips after our plans, as they 

 find they cannot use the oil smears, used so much in the United States, on 

 account of the heat of the sun. The cattle tick is also found in Jamaica, 

 and tliere are also a great numlx-r of indigenous species found in the 

 different West Indian Islands. 



Another very serious disease in Cuba is tetanus, wdiich attacks both man 

 and beast. The natives are very careful about their feet when travelling:, 

 and, unlike Mexico, always wear boots or sandals, for injuries to the feet 

 are very liable to luring on lockjaw. It is quite a conunon thing for a 

 mule if it gets staked in tlie feet to develop tliis disease. Dr. ^layo says 

 that rest and treatment with strychnine are the most effective remedies. 



Thrush in the frog of the forefeet is anotlier troublesome disease in 

 the wet season, and, if neglected, the hoof rots. Treating with carl)olic or 

 creoline and packing the diseased parts cures it in time. 



I have, &c., 

 (Sgd.) WALTER W. FROGGATT. 



The Hon. the Minister for Agriculture. 



