70 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



ditions, eliminate the cause, and thus secure the best results possible. 

 Here in the west we are interested in the growing of cattle and sheep 

 and hogs, and the live stock growers of this section of the country are 

 co-operating with the United States (Government in order to get the best 

 results possible. 



The entire work of the Bureau of Animal Industry which is carried 

 on in the South is a warfare against what is known as the Texas Fever. 

 This Texas Fever is a little insect or mite that attacks the animal 

 and just simply kills the animal directly. The animal comes down with 

 a very high fever and it is only a short time until it is dead. This is one 

 of the greatest drawbacks or hindrances to the development of Agricul- 

 ture and Animal Husbandry in the South. The very finest Shorthorns, 

 Herefords, Galloways, and in fact all of the finest breeds of cattle in 

 the south are subject to this so-called Texas Fever. It is preventing the 

 building up and development of the South. The Government is contend- 

 ing with this question and they have now found a remedy for this Texas 

 Fever. Last year the Department of Agriculture appropriation for fight- 

 ing this disease was $150,000 and this year it is $2,000,000. The United 

 States Department has estabUshed down there what is known as the 

 "Dead Line," running clear from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the border 

 line where Texas Fever begins. They are gradually getting control of 

 this disease and are forcing this dead line south as fast as possible. 

 This is one of the greatest and most important undertakings that the 

 Government is carrying on at the present time. 



Another important question that the Government is engaged in trying 

 to work out is that of hog cholera. The study of this disease was begun 

 in 1878 at the time the first appropriation was allowed, and from that 

 time until this the work has been carried on by the Government and the 

 different Experiment stations of the various states all over the country. 

 Congress has been more liberal in these things than our state legislatures 

 and for that reason they have been doing a lot more practical work. 

 This has now reached the point where they have found a remedy for this 

 disease. When Dr. Melvin announced that they had found a cure for hog 

 cholera I knew it must be so. Dr. Melvin is not a radical or assertive 

 man at all, but one of the most conservative men I have ever known, and 

 therefore it seems that there is no question but what they have discovered 

 a remedy for this disease. Now I don't want to give out the impression 

 that they can go into a herd of hogs that have the cholera and save every 

 one of them, but I do say that they can take a herd where the cholera is 

 just breaking out and save from 85 to 95 per cent of those hogs. And 

 if they can do that it is worth millions of dollars to the farmers of this 

 country. When I took up with this work here in Nebraska I was criticised 

 by some for taking up with a matter that did not have any merit in it, 

 but now that success is assured in combating this long dreaded disease 

 I think the people should know about it. I gave out a statement to the 

 effect that the Department would have a representative call at any place 

 •where he was wanted. To be sure this is a pretty big affair, but the 



