15 
many respects resembles pleuro-pneumonia. The only remedy I know is, to keep 
the animals warm, and not overheat or overwork them. Kosciusko: The epizooty 
has prevailed all over the county, but no fatal cases where the horses were in good 
health and flesh when attacked. Owen: Horses have increased in number and de- 
creased in price. Mules not sought, and therefore not bred the past year. Cattle have 
increased because of increase of pasturage. Sheep have decreased because sought for at 
tempting prices. Hogs healthy and at fair rates. No mast this year. Average supply. 
Putnam: The number of sheep killed by dogs the past year has been unusually 
large. Stark: Stock has suffered some in this county for the want of water, also from 
the severe cold weather where they were not provided with shelter, a great many 
haying to lie in open fields on the snow. Newton: Very few sheep in this county. 
Some four years since our farmers were anxious to engage in sheep-husbandry, and | 
a great many sheep were imported with foot-rot, which was communicated to the 
native sheep. Disease and the low price of wool induced the farmers to dispose of 
them. Cattle can be raised on our rich prairie lands at small cost. Prairie hay can 
be bought for $2.50 per ton and corn for 25 cents per bushel. Railroad freights are the 
great drawback to successful stock and grain raising. But little attention has been 
given to improved breeds of horses and cattle. In the hog line we have the Poland, 
China, Berkshire, and Chester White. A great many hogs and cattle are annually 
shipped from this county. ; 
ILLINOIS. 
Cook: Our county is becoming overstocked and dairy products declining in price, 
and we have disposed of a share of our cows. De Kalb: There is a sensible increase 
in cattle, but a depression in price, as in the hay crop. Owing to the advance on wool, 
sheep are on the increase, and bear better prices. Milch cows are not as high as they 
were one year ago. Cheese making has become an industry in De Kalb County. Not 
less than 500,000 pounds of cheese have been manufactured the past season, which will 
give a return of at least $60,000. Madison: The land in this section being all improved, 
there cannot be great changes in the number of animals, unless the agricultural system 
be considerably modified. The breeds, however, show some improvement on the old 
ones. Stephenson: The number of sheep within the past few years have materially 
decreased, but for the last year it has been kept up, since wool has advanced suffi- 
ciently to make the production a paying business. Bureau: Horses are low and 
sales few. Mules are increasing; sell higher than horses. Sheep are scarce; 
but few flocks in the county. Some are beginning to talk sheep again. Good 
milch cows with calf by the side, sell for from $25 to $50. Effingham: Stock 
has wintered well this far in all cases where they get water regularly. Kankakee: 
The number of cattle is diminishing on account of the want of outside range. 
Very few sheep are kept; the. number of dogs discourages the raising of them, since 
they cannot with any safety be left in the pasture over night. boone: Recently 
afarmer lost fifteen sheep, out of his flock of twenty-one, by dogs in one night. Clin- 
ton: The drought is unprecedented in this county. The difficulty of getting water 
for stock is great. The epizooty is prevalent; I think one hundred will cover the loss 
of horses and mules. As far as I have been able to ascertain all that have been 
bled have died. Crawford: Epizooty in abundance, but few fatal. Weather dry 
and cold, and water scarce. Stock have suffered in some parts of the county. Law- 
rence: The epizooty very light on the farm horses; very few deaths. Marshall: 
Owing principally to the lately prevailing epizooty corn was not all gathered. 
Grundy : Stock of all kinds generally in good condition. McZean: Almost every horse 
in this county has had the epizooty within the last month, but are now mostly over 
it. Not more than 90 have died, those being kept in cities, in close warm stables. 
Horses of considerable Norman blood, of which there are a good many in the county, 
are much higher thap the average. Those weighing 1,100 pounds and upward have 
been shipped almost constantly from Bloomington, at an average of about $185. 
Oxen and other stock look well, a large number being Texas and Cherokee cat- 
tle. Sheep healthy; look well. Long-wool and other mutton-sheep are receiving 
more attention. Hogs have been made unusually large and fine by plenty and 
cheap corn. Hancock: The horse disease has been general; the fatality has not 
been more than two per cent., and then attributable to overuse or bad treat- 
ment. Close observation and inquiry warrant the belief that blanketing and medicine 
do more harm than good, except in extreme cases. Care, abstinence from work, and 
allowing them to run loose where it can be done, have shown the best results. Lee : 
Cattle, sheep, and hogs are wintering well. The horses have generally recovered from 
the epizooty, and, so far as discoverable, it has left no bad effects. The people are 
complaining of low prices for produce and high taxes. Ogle: Nearly all the horses 
have had the epizooty; the most of them have recovered—a few died. Mild remedies, 
proper care, and rest, have proved to be the best treatment. Horses, cattle, and hogs 
continue low in price and of dull sale. Sheep have appreciated in value. Sangamon ; 
The epizooty made its appearance in this county about the 30th of November. It has 
