10 Georgia State College of Agriculture 



days. The female tick rarely changes her location on the skin of 

 the animal, but the male shows more activity and moves about to 

 some extent. 



The various stages of the ticks as seen on cattle are: seed ticks or 

 larvae, nymph, and sexually mature ticks of various sizes from those 

 just past the second moult to fully developed and 

 engorged females ready to drop off and begin egg 

 laying. On the ground may be found the -mature 

 female ready for or engaged in egg laying, eggs, 

 and larvae or seed ticks. The eradication of the 

 cattle tick is necessary as a part of the great change 

 that is taking place in agricultural conditions. Live 



stock is; important in connection with all forms of 



cultivation whether extensive or intensive, and 

 especially important for successful diversified farm- 

 ing and crop rotation. 



Tick eradication has been going on for several years. Many 

 thousands of square miles of territory have been entirely freed of 

 this pest and in this recently freed territory great beneficial results 

 in improvements of types and breeds of cattle have been obtained. 

 The cattle from the territory formerly handled under quarantine 

 restrictions in the markets of the north and east and sold at cor- 

 respondingly low prices are now admitted to the markets without 

 restrictions of any kind, and are sold at their true market value. 

 The work is being carried on successfully in our neighboring states 

 to the west, north, and east, and in many counties of our own state. 

 Every Georgia farmer and every other citizen who has an interest 

 in the welfare of the state should be an exponent of tick eradication. 

 The work as carried on is in cooperation with the U. S. Bureau 

 of Animal Industry. The best system of eradication appears to be 

 to work either a row of counties east and west across the state or a 

 large group of counties on or near 4 one of the state lines. When a 

 specified territory, as a county, has been rid of ticks a rigid quaran- 

 tine against all cattle from adjoining tick infested territory must 

 be maintained in order to prevent the introduction of a new crop 

 of ticks. 



Methods of Eradication. 



These are pasture rotation; hand-picking and currying; hand- 

 dressing with oils or other substances; spraying and dipping. 



Pasture rotation is impractical on nearly all farms in Georgia on 

 account of lack of a sufficient number of pastures and fences, there- 

 fore it will not be discussed. 



Hand-picking and currying. This method is practical for owners 

 of very small herds, if faithfully done. It consists of the removal 

 of all ticks, more than half grown from all cattle on the farm once 



