433 



amounting to 12 per cent, in Louisiana. Of the southern inland States 

 Arkansas reports an increase, but this is more than counterbalanced by 

 the loss in all the others. Xorth of the Ohio Eiver, Michigan and Illi- 

 nois equal last year's report, but the other States fall below. West 

 the Mississippi all the States report an. increase ranging from 2 per 

 cent, in jS'ebraska to 53 per cent, in Kansas. On the Pacific coast the 

 loss of S per cent in. California largely exceeds the gain of 9 per cent, 

 upon the smaller aggregate of Oregon. 



All the New England and Middle States report a condition above 

 average except Massachusetts, where the deficiency is only 1 per cent., 

 the maximum, 107, being in Connecticut. The South Atlantic Coast 

 States and Gulf States are all above average except Maryland, 98, 'and 

 Florida, 99. The southern inland States and the States north of the 

 Ohio Eiver and west of the Mississippi are uniformly above average, 

 the maximum, 112, being in Arkansas. On the Pacifi.c coast, California 

 is 5 per cent, below average and Oregon 2 per cent, above. From the 

 accompanying notes of correspondence it will be seen that scarcity or 

 plenty of feeding material may both operate to increase the number of 

 fattening cattle. In some counties, as in Sullivan, Ii^ew York, it is 

 ound more profitable to utilize a scant stock of food in preparing ani- 

 mals for market than to keep them over. In others, as in Cook, Illi- 

 nois, and Greene, Missouri, the abundance of the feeding crop is an 

 inducement to enlarge the number of fattening stock. In several coun- 

 ties of Kansas the immense corn-crop is being largely consumed by cattle 

 from abroad. 



Maixe. — Piscataquis : Mncli above average in condition. 



New York. — Queens : Root-crops for fattening cattle are abundant, and the stock look 

 better than for several seasons past. Sullivan : Scarcity of hay increases the number 

 of fattening cattle, and good, full feed gives them a condition above average, 



Pennsylvania. — Bucks : Short pastures and scarcity of fodder prevented the usual 

 supply of fattening cattle from being brought into this section. Armstrong : Few cattle 

 fattening. 



Virginia. — Uockingliam : Stock of all kinds looking well. Carroll : Better than last 

 year and increasing. Highland ; Will compare favorably with last year. 



North Carolina. — Davie : In better condition than usual. 



Texas. — Coryell : In fine condition, but the number reduced. Dallas : In fine condi- 

 tion, with good prices. Medina : Large sales of our beeves in the Kansas and Missouri 

 markets have reduced their number. 



West Virginia. — Pocahontas : Fattening well. 



Michigan. — Newago : Not as plenty as last year, but in excellent condition. 



Indiana. — Marion : Very few will be fed this season. ■ 



Illinois. — Cook : Our abundant crop induces more feeding. McLean : Never saw 

 them look so well. 



Wisconsin. — Walworth : Will be but few fattened, for want of a corn-crop. 



Iowa. — Lee ; Plenty, and in unusually good flesh. 



Missouri. — Greene : Think there was not a dozen cattle fattening in the county last 

 year. We had no corn, and nearly all our hogs were shipped. This year we have an 

 immense corn-crop, and but few hogs. The result is that large numbers of cattle, will 

 be fattened for market. 



Kansas. — Nemaha : In place of but few fattening cattle in the county last winter, 

 there will be many this, both native and foreign, to consume the corn-crop, which is 

 immense. Woodson : Our farmers are endeavoring to market their surplus corn by feed- 

 ing cattle. Lyon : Last year none fattened except for home consumption ; this year 

 many hundreds, for shipment, corn being abundant and cheap. 



California. — Have fallen off greatly in numbers, but are in excellent condition. 



