284 A TlCK-RESlSTANT CONDITION IN' CATTLE. 



inroads of worms and fluke (Q.A.J., 1U18, p. 4S) and is of 

 the ojiinion that similar treatment woidd be beneficial to 

 ticky cattle. Stewart (1906, i>. 1156) mentioned that 

 cattle sufferetl more severely from tick worry when fodder 

 was dry and scarce, such as during periods of drought ; and 

 that a Iil)eral allowance of green succulent fodder invariably 

 aided them in their fight against the tick. 



In consideration of the possibility that the tick-resist- 

 ance enjoyed by Mi-. Hull's cattle, had been developed 

 and maintained by thein eating some plant peculiar to hi& 

 property, a collection of all the more evident plants was 

 made both from Mr. Hull's paddocks and from those opjjosite,, 

 where the cattle were ticky. The specimens were kindly 

 identified for us by the Government Botanist, Mr. C T. 

 White. None of those submitted were rare, the majority 

 being the common scrub and forest plants found all along 

 the North coast. The fact that Mr. Hidl has frequently 

 had his resistant animals running in neighbouring paddocks 

 with tick-infested stock, without any reduction in their 

 resistance, also negatives this suggestion. The creek water 

 was not foiuid to be unduly charged with mineral salts.* 



Effect of Locality. 



Tick resistant animals occur in very manj- districts in 

 Queensland. We have records of animals exhibiting suck 

 resistance from the folloMdng places : — Springbrook Plateau ; 

 South Coast district^ — ^Tambonrine Mt. : Brisbane disti'ict — 

 CIraceville and Kangaroo Point ; North Coast disrict — 

 Terror's Creek {via Petrie), Crohamhurst, Mooloolah and 

 Eumundi ; Mt. Larcom and Ravenshoc (Atherton ta])le- 

 land). In almost every case the animals were running on 

 scrub country. 



Ticks develoj) most freely in a moist warm climate. 

 Cold retards their development, while an intense drj' heat 

 destroys the eggs, thus the tick has never established itself 



*A remarkable " remedy " for tick fever and also alleged to b» 

 efficacious in ridding beasts of the ticks tlionisolves in the Transvaal is 

 cited by the Editor of the Queensland Agricultural Journal (Q.A.J. , vol* 

 xxii., 1909, p. 104). The treatment consists of making an incision in tho 

 dewlap and inserting a piece of garlic bulb. Garlic is .said' to be an old 

 remedy used by the Dutch for their horses when these became badly 

 tick-infested. 



