MONTHLY EEPOET. 



Department of Agriculture, Aj)ril, 1866. 



Again aud for tlie last time, I ask attention to the necessity of such legisla- 

 tion as will meet the cattle plague should it be introduced into this country. 

 Great Britain, after relying upon curative means to meet this disease, has been 

 compelled to resort to the " sta?nping out" course, as it is called in that country; 

 the " ?.yo7a^20«" process, as it is termed here; or the "cordon," as it is called 

 in Germany. This is the plan these reports have always insisted upon as 

 absolutely necessary ; and to enforce it in this country, whenever necessary, has 

 been my repeated recommendation. The disease, under its favorable operation, 

 is rapidly disappearing in Great Britain. For the purpose of laying before all 

 the provisions of such an act as should be passed by Congress and the State legis- 

 latures, the law of Massachusetts is republished in this report. The letter of 

 Charles P. Preston, one of the commissioners of that State, acting under this law, 

 is embodied in this article, and will be read with interest. 



In publishing the excellent letter of the American consul at Berlin on the 

 beet sugar manufacture in those Geraian States associated together for commer- 

 cial purposes under the name of the Zollverein, I accompany it with some 

 important statistics relative to the rise and progress of beet sugar manufacture 

 in France. Few subjects are more interesting to the American people, not only 

 on account of the great consumption here of so necessary an article as sugar, but 

 because it shows how perseverance will ultimately overcome every obstacle in 

 the production of any commodity essential to the well-being of all. 



The short article on "sheep killed by dogs" is interesting as showing the 

 great losses incun-ed by sheep-raisers from the depredations of dogs. 



In this report will be found a full statement relative to the numbers, prices 

 and values of the different kinds of live stock in all the loyal States, and in each 

 of these States separately. The first article shows the practical importance of 

 knowing the niimbers of each kind of stock. As soon as this department learns 

 the general condition of sheep during the winter and spring, an accurate estimate 

 will be published of. the pounds of wopl sheared ; and thus the country will have 

 before it a leading fact necessary in determining the value of the fleece. 



These tables of live stock point out the direction which the market demand 

 for live stock must take for some years. The great scarcity of all stock used 

 and consumed in the south, especially mules and hogs, will guarantee profitable 

 Jlrices'for a long time. No farmer can mistake his interests in giving increased 

 attention to the raising of horses and cattle, especially cows. The pi-actice of kill- 



