ABSTRACTS OF PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 



AGRICULTURE. 



DIVISION OF STATISTICS. 



Eeport No, 81 (NEW SERIES), January and February, 1891 (pp. 

 56). — This inclndes articles on the number aud value of farm auimalsin 

 the Uuited States ; cotton returns for February, 1891 ; the canning 

 industry in 1890; the Angora goat in California ; new railroad construc- 

 tion in 1890 ; European crop report for February, 1891 ; notes on foreign 

 agriculture; and transportation rates for January and February, 1891. 



The number of horses on farms, as reported, is 14,056,7,'30. Average price of all ages, 

 |i67, a decline from last year of $1.84, 



The number of ninles is 2,296,5:^2, having an average value of |77.88, a decline from 

 last year of 37 cents. 



The number of milch cows is 16,019,.59l, an increase of 66,708 from last year. 

 The average value per head is $21.62, which is less by 52 cents than last year's 

 average. There is a tendency to increase of dairying in the South, especially in the 

 mountain region, which oft'ers inducemeuta of chcaii lands and abundant grasses. 



Other catlfe aggregate 36,875,648, including those on ranches. The highest value 

 is $28,64 in Connecticut; the lowest |8.46 in Arkansas, In Texas the average value 

 is $8,89. 



The estimated number of sheep is $43,431,136; the average value, $2.51, or an 

 increase of 24 cents, or more than 10 per cent. All other kinds of farm auimals have 

 declined slightly in price, A tendency to iucrease of numbers is seen in most of the 

 States, though the heavy losses from the severe winter of last year on the Pacific slope 

 have decreased the aggregate. 



The aggregate number of swine is 50,625,106, showing a decline of nearly 2 per 

 cent. The average value is $4.15, a decrease of 57 cents per head. The scarcity of 

 corn caused a slaughter of stock hogs in poor condition, tendiug to glut the market 

 and reduce the price temporarily, 



BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



Special report on the diseases of the horse, 1890 (pp. 556, 

 illustrated). — This was j^repared under the direction of Dr. D. E. Salmon, 

 Chief of the Bureau, by a number of the most eminent members of the 

 veterinary profession in the United States, and is intended to be a safe 

 and scientific guide to farmers in the treatment of their horses. While 

 the difierent topics have been treated in a more or less popular stj^le, 

 the volume contains valuable contributions to existing knowledge, and 

 518 



