211 



than ever known before. Even where bulls ran in the pasture with the 

 •cows the latter failed to get with calf. Effingham, Illinois, reports a 

 great loss of calves from the severity of the season. 



West of the Mississippi, Kansas shows an improved condition of cows, 

 3 per cent, above average, while the other States decline, Missouri as 

 low as 17 per cent. In all the States of this section, except Missouri, 

 the number of calves dropped equals or exceeds last year's. In some 

 parts of Minnesota the severe winter caused many cows to drop their 

 calves prematurely. In some localities in Kansas cows lost calves 

 through defective feeding. 



On "the Pacific coast, California returns an improved condition of cows, 

 and a decrease in calves ; Oregon a slightly depressed condition of cows, 

 but an increased production of calves. 



SHEEP AI^D LAMBS. 



The losses of mature sheep are reported to exceed two millions. The 

 actual percentage of loss is made 6.7. 



The small but well-kept flocks of Massachusetts show a loss of but 3 

 per cent, of grown sheep, and 6 per cent, of the lambs dropped. The 

 greatest loss of sheep in the other New England States — 9 per cent. — 

 was in Rhode Island ; the greatest loss among lambs dropped — 13 

 per cent. — was in Vermont, where the winter was quite severe in the 

 sheep-raising districts. New London, Connecticut, reports an unusual 

 mortality, the cause of which is not stated. 



In tbe*^ Middle States, New York lost 6 per cent, of her grown sheep, 

 and 16 per cent, of her lambs dropped ; New Jersey, 5 per cent, of sheep, 

 and 9 per cent, of lambs ; Pennsylvania, 7 per cent, of sheep, and 13 

 per cent, of lambs ; Delaware, 5,3 per cent, of sheep, and 20,3 per cent, 

 of lambs. The mortality of these animals was greatly increased by the 

 extreme cold weather, but it is remarkable that the greatest loss of 

 lambs was in Delaware, the most southern of these States. 



Along the South- Atlantic coast, Maryland reports the smallest mortal- 

 ity of sheei) — 6 per cent. ; but the greatest mortality of lambs 

 dropped, 17 per cent. In Virginia, the losses of these two classes, re- 

 spectively, were 10 and 12 per cent. ; in North Carolina, 10 and 13 per 

 cent. ; in South Carolina, 9 and 14 per cent. ; in Georgia, 13 per cent, 

 each. In Maryland, the lambing season was reported as very unfavor- 

 able. 



In the Gulf States the mortality among sheep and lambs was very 

 large. The large loss of lambs in many counties was attributed to the 

 unusual cold of the lambing season and the lack of care on the part of 

 farmers. 



Arkansas and Tennessee lost 12 per cent, in sheep, while West Vir- 

 ginia lost only 7 J per cent., and Kentucky 8 per cent. The loss of lambs 

 was lightest in Tennessee, 12 per cent. ; and heaviest in Arkansas, 19 

 per cent. ; West Virginia lost 16 per cent., and Kentucky 17 per cent. 

 Unusual snow-storms prevailed in many counties during the lambing 

 season, causing great destruction. 



North of the Ohio River, the rate of mortality declines. Here sheep- 

 husbandry is more merciful in the treatment of the animals and more 

 thrifty in its results. The severity of the winter, however, gives a high 

 average mortality of sheep, ranging from 4 per cent, in Wisconsin to 7 

 per cent, in Indiana and Illinois ; Ohio and Michigan average 5 per 

 cent. 5 Indiana lost 14 per cent, of her lambs dropped ; the other States 

 lost 12 per cent. 



