26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the English Government have placed some restrictions upon 

 the entrance of cattle into their country, yet we are happy to 

 say, that, under these restrictions, the exportation traffic is 

 being carried on, and in fact it has been steadily increasing. 

 It was said at the time of the appearance of the disease, that 

 its cause was owing to long exposure of cattle on account of 

 storms while they were being transported by rail. It was 

 said further, that the extent of the disease was magnified by 

 those whose trade had been unfavorably affected by our 

 exportations. Be this as it may, it can but be desired by 

 every one interested in this great national industry, that 

 every vestige of these diseases, of whatever type, may be 

 effectually stamped out. We rejoice to learn that stock- 

 growers are stirring in the matter of bringing before our 

 National Congress the necessity of the enlistment of the 

 government in the matter, and the need of an appropriation 

 for the prosecution of the work of cattle-disease extermina- 

 tion ; and it is desired that the Massachusetts Board of Agri- 

 culture may present this matter to our Legislature, that they 

 may be led to urge upon Congress immediate action. 



The British secretary of legation at Washington has re- 

 cently communicated to his people a statement of the cost 

 of agricultural produce in the United States, that the gov- 

 ernment might know what to expect in the future from the 

 import of American food. He says as to the future pros- 

 pects of the cattle-trade, " If the present restrictions in 

 England were removed, and the cattle from the United 

 States were allowed to be landed alive, the trade would in- 

 crease enormously, since, notwithstanding many obstacles, 

 the shipments have shown a substantial increase this year." 



American cattle have been selling in Liverpool at a very 

 handsome profit on the cost, and, so long as a remunerative 

 market is open, the trade will increase, since, with the vast 

 stock-raising lands of the West, there is practically no limit 

 to the exportation. 



The rapid increase in the export trade of cattle can best 

 be realized when it is considered that the trade, although it 

 had been established but two years, reached in 1877, embra- 

 cing meat and live animals, an aggregate of over $8,000,000, 

 and for the year ending July 1, 1879, $11,487,754. 



The shipments for 1878 were $80,000 ; for 1879, $136,000. 



