388 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



that flocks not only of Pennsylvania but of the world are declining 

 at an alarming rate. Pennsylvania State Veterinarian, Dr. Leonard 

 Pearson attributes (his decrease in Pennsylvania largely to ravages 

 of dogs. As the State becomes more thickly populated, more dogs 

 are kept in the same centers of population, about industrial estab- 

 lishments, coal mines, summer resorts, worthless country dogs, etc. 



The loss of the flocks to the world from various causes, in the last 

 thirty years shows a loss of no less than 93,000,000 head, an average 

 of more than 3,000,000 a year. It may thus be seen what an im- 

 mense field of enterprise is open to the farmers of Pennsylvania in 

 a single agricultural product. Dogs have ravaged the flocks of Penn- 

 sylvania to a very discouraging and disastrous extent. It has not 

 yet been possible to secure effective legislation on this subject, and 

 it is one that merits the earnest attention of the State Board of Agri- 

 culture. Heretofore, there has been several general discussions on 

 this subject, but the discussions have not resulted in definite action. 

 If the strength of the Board of Agriculture could be brought to bear 

 in favor of a given bill, it is likely that the passage of the bill could 

 be obtained at the hands of the Legislature. 



No one should be permitted to keep a dog that is not worth pay- 

 ing taxes on. The dog tax should be more carefully assessed, and 

 the penalty for non-payment should be the destruction of the dog. 

 It might be well for the State to inaugurate a system for licensing 

 dogs as is now done in some cities. In this case the dog has to 

 wear his license in the form of a metal tag attached to the collar. 



Poultry may be raised with the greatest economy on the farms 

 of the country where there is unlimited range and exhaustless sup- 

 ply of insects and worms, and an abundance of seeds and grains 

 going to waste which poultry alone can utilize. When fenced away 

 from the garden and flower beds, it does little damage and causes 

 scarcely any annoyance on a farm. Gapes in chickens are the great- 

 est drawback and the poultry raiser is anxiously looking for an ef- 

 fectual remedy. 



Pennsylvania has 1,200,000 swine. Where good sanitary condi- 

 tions exist, with plenty of clover, milk, charcoal and good common 

 sense, energy and thrift, there is little doubt but swine are profitable 

 and little troubled with disease. It is much better and cheaper to 

 prevent disease than to cure it when once contracted. 



On motion, duly seconded, the report was received and placed on 

 file. 



The CHAIRMAN: The next on the program is the Report of the 

 Veterinarian, Dr. Leonard Pearson, of Philadelphia. 



Dr. Pearson not being present, his number upon the program was 

 passed. 



The CHAIRMAN: Mr. Nelson, who is Chairman of the Committee 

 on Apiary, prefers to report to-morrow morning. 



Dr. Edward Patrick, of West Chester, Pa., not being present, his 

 number on the program was passed. 



Mr. McHenry, third vice present, at this point took the Chair. 



The CHAIRMAN: Next upon the program is the Report of the 

 Committee on Roads and Road Laws, P. S. Fenstermaker, Chairman. 

 We will now hear from Mi'. Fenstermaker. 



