173 



Danger to stook from gypsum. — RoanoJce, Va: There is great 

 danger in turniug stock on a grass-field on which plaster has been 

 recently sown, or until the plaster has been taken up either by rain or 

 heavy dews. Two years ago some stock was turned upon a field on the 

 same day on which it was plastered, and they all died in a few hours. 

 There were no indications of " hoven," the stock being in good condition, 

 and the sudden death was believed to be solely the effect of the sulphate 

 of lime. 



JuMPiNG-SHEEP. — Highland, Va. : Take a board about 2 feet long, 5 

 or inches wide, and 1 inch thick. Fasten it to the sheep's neck so 

 that it will come flat against the knees. When the sheep attempt to 

 jump, the board prevents a foot-hold on the fence and throws them back. 

 A few trials satisfy them. The worst jumpers can be cured in this way. 

 Last summer I had nine which were such bad jumpers that no fence 

 could stop them. I fixed them in the way above described and had no 

 further trouble. At the same time the board prevents much running 

 about, and causes them to fatten better. Try it. 



THE COTTON-CROP OF LAST YEAR. 



Manipulators of cotton-statistics desirous of reducing prices below 

 a rate warranted by the probable production, waged all last season 

 a most mendacious warfare upon the cotton-reports of this Depart- 

 ment. Their own estimates are now proved to be not far from a half 

 million bales too high, while the figures of this olfice are verified with 

 remarkable closeness. The following is from our December report, 

 indicating an aggregate about 300,000 bales less than the crop of 1873, 

 in the very face of an increase of receipts, up to December, of more 

 than 300,000 bales : 



The cotton-product of 1874, as estimated by our correspondents on the 1st of November 

 aggregates about three and two-thirds millions of bales. The yield per acre is reported less 

 than iu 1873 in most of the States. The weather for ripening and gathering the top-crop 

 has been very favorable. Tlie reports are nearly unanimous in stating that the proportion 

 of lint to seed is large. The percentages of last year's aggregate of bales in the principal 

 cotton-States are as follows : Virginia, 89 ; North Carolina, S'J ; South Carolina, 92 ; Geor- 

 gia, 93 ; Florida, 1(10 ; Alabama, 95 ; Mississippi, 90 ; Louisiana, 85 ; Texas, 90 ; Arkan- 

 sas, 60; Tennessee, 57. This result corresponds very closely with the indications of the 

 monthly statements of condition made by the Department. It is larger than that fore- 

 shadowed by the Cotton Exchanges. It is as high as an honest rendering of returns war- 

 ranted on the 1st of November ; and though the fine weather since that date may add 

 something to the quantity opened and safely gathered, and the large proportion of lint may 

 swell the aggregate, the highest estimate that coidd be based fairly upon these returns could 

 scarcely reach 4,000,000 bales. 



The Kew York Cotton-Exchange sums up the receipts at the ports, 

 up to April IG, 1875, at 3,259,907 bales, against 3,506,942, making a 

 decrease of 247,035 bales. Since December the decline has been con- 

 tinuous and almost unprecedented in its rate. If this decline should 

 stop at this date, which is altogether improbable, the j)resent difference 

 would reduce the total from 4,170,000 bales last year to 3,922,965 bales. 

 Should it continue and tlie overland receipts make as high a percent- 

 age of the whole crop as last year, the crop will exceed, by a very small 

 margin, 3,800,000 bales. With t!ie present indications of an exhaustion 

 of the stock on hand in the interior, it seems scarcely possible that the 

 latter figures can be exceeded except by " doctoring " overlaad receipts 



