92 



fereuce — 33 per cent. la North Carolina, Pasquotank, on the coast, 

 increases her values in spring but 10 per cent., while Duplin, in the in- 

 terior, shows 40 per cent. In the other States of this region, and in the 

 Gulf States, our reports show about the same range of facts in regard 

 to horses ; but in regard to cows and sheep the figures represent only 

 that small portion of the animals that are fed during winter, and do not 

 warrant general conclusions. Their money-value is too often depressed 

 in the spring through poverty of condition, caused by partial starvation. 



The inland Southern States exhibit higher ideas in the care of live- 

 stock, and exhibit fewer instances of that gross neglect so general in the 

 far South. The estimates of difference between fall and spring values 

 seem to be more reliable, but are subject to local variations. Counties 

 in different parts of Arkansas and Tennessee report no difference of 

 value, while in neighboring counties margins of 20, 25, and 30 per cent, 

 are presented. It is noticeable that in Kentucky there are no counties 

 which do not show some difference 5 yet the average of the counties re- 

 porting is less than in the other States of this region. 



North of the Ohio Eiver, several counties report the money- value of 

 horses at its maximum in the fall, on account of the greater local de- 

 mand at that season. In a few other counties there is no increase of 

 value, but in most cases there is a considerable difference. Of the coun- 

 ties reporting, Ohio presents the largest average difference of values of 

 horses, Michigan of cows, and Wisconsin of sheep. Here, as in the 

 States east of the Allegheny Mountains, onr correspondents in the 

 vicinity of large cities leave this i)art of their reports blank. 



West of the Mississippi Eiver, all counties reporting show some 

 difference in fall and spring values. Minnesota shows the greatest in- 

 crease in horses and Missouri the least ; in cows, the greatest increase 

 is shown by Nebraska and the smallest by Missouri ; in sheep, the max- 

 imum increase is found in Kansas and the smallest in Missouri. 



On. the Pacific coast our correspondents seem reluctant to commit 

 themselves to definite estimates. Local variation is also considerable, 

 and enhances the difficulty of coming to general conclusions. 



Gain or loss of weight in wintering. — In Maine, horses, being 

 relieved from heavy work and adequately sheltered, show an increase 

 of weight and an improvement of condition in spring, as also do milch- 

 cows and cattle fattening for market. This, however, is the general 

 rule in all parts of the county, especially in regard to work-animals; 

 but in regard to stock-cattle and sheep, the exception becomes the gen- 

 eral rule. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont show some decline on 

 the whole. In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, in spite 

 of the higher cost of feeding-material, all classes of farm-animals are 

 kept nearer their normal condition, because most of them are kept 

 either for work or milk. 



Our correspondence in New York presents a considerable variety of 

 treatment of animals. Several counties report an absolute gain in 

 weight, but the larger number acknowledge a decline. Even horses, in 

 some cases, decrease from 50 to 100 pounds per head during the winter; 

 cattle lose from 25 to 75 pounds ; sheep from 10 to 15. Dairymen gen- 

 erally keep up their cows on grain, but the cows of other parties decline 

 to a greater or less extent. In New Jersey the condition appears to be 

 more generally kept up. The general practice in Pennsylvania falls be- 

 low several admirable examples in different parts of the State. In Lan- 

 caster County it has been tested that good feeding will make a steer of 

 1,200 pounds, worth 5 cents per pound in the fall, weigh 1,600 pounds 

 in the spring, and bring 7 cents per pound — a gain of $52, very largely 



