40 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The bureau has discovered a serum which in herds inocula- 

 ted has resulted in saving from 75 to 80 per cent, of the herds. 

 In 1896 the Bureau set to work preparing- a vaccine which 

 would produce immunity from blackleg-, a disease which in 

 some states caused greater mortality than all others com- 

 bined. In 1898 this vaccine was distributed extensively, and 

 reports covering 127,000 herds of cattle show that the loss of 

 animals after vaccination has been reduced to 0.54 per cent., 

 whereas previous to that time it was about 14 per cent. 



The inspection of animals for export is one of the most 

 important features of the work of the Bureau. So perfect 

 has this become that it is possible to trace the history of any 

 animal to the farm whence it came. In 1898 there were 418,- 

 694 cattle inspected and sheep to the number of 174,000. The 

 establishment of quarantine stations at the principal seaports 

 of this country has resulted beneficially and the inspection of 

 vessels engaged in transportation of live stock has caused a re- 

 duction in the insurance rates on cattle from $8 to $lper head. 



The work of general meat inspection has grown wonder- 

 fullv in the nine years of its existence. In 1892 the number 

 of animals inspected before slaughter was 3,809,459; in 1899 

 it was 34,405,973. The microscopic inspection of pork has 

 increased from 38,152,874 pounds in 1892 to 108,928,195 pounds 

 in 1899. 



EXPORTS. 



Twenty years ago our Agricultural exports were valued 

 at $550,000,000. At present they are close to $850,000,000, 

 an increase of $300,000,000. The extent of this development 

 can be better appreciated when it is remembered that our 

 home requirements have been increased by the addition of 

 30,000,000 people who have also been supplied. 



It is in the live stock product that our exports have shown 

 the principal gains. Breadstuffs were exported almost as ex- 

 tensively twenty years ago as at present, as was also tobacco. 

 Cotton is sent abroad in larger quantities than formerly, but 

 for several years past the reduced price left little increase in 

 the total value. With present good prices the value will 

 show great increase. Meat exports rose in value from $125,- 

 000,000 twenty years ago to about $175,000,000 in 1899, a 

 gain of $50,000,000. Our shipments of live animals increased 

 from $10,000,000 to nearly $40,000,000. This gain suggests 

 greater possibilities in live stock exportation under the im- 

 proved transportation facilities of the present day. Our ex- 

 ports of fresh beef increased from $5,000,000 to about $25,- 

 000,000, and with the further introduction and perfection of 

 refrigerator service on ocean steamships an important devel- 

 opment of this export trade can be confidently expected. 



