23 



Cherokee, Tex. — Why is it that in a season wben bitter mast is plenty, many hogs 

 have kitlney-wonns ? I have several now down with them. They first "comnieiace to 

 stagger on "the hind logs, then break down entirely in the loins, and drag the hind legs 

 on the gronud until they become wholly disabled, when they starve. I refer to hogs 

 in the woods. 



Jefferson, Ga. — The nnusual severity of last winter and the general want of comfortable 

 protection for all cattle, resulted in a loss of at least 10 per cent, of the cattle in this 

 county, and of about 5 per cent, of the hogs. It is lamentably true that few farmers 

 think of stabling their cattle or preparing comfortable quarters for their hogs or sheep, 

 but let them take the rigor of the weather as it comes. Hence a corresjwnding loss 

 after a severe winter. 



Sotwma, Cal. — The remarkable decrease in the nxiniber of horses in this county (84 

 per cent, compared with one year ago) is worthy of note, inasmuch as it indicates the 

 prevailing conviction among farmers of the necessity of ridding themselves of a lot 

 of mustangs, which are a nuisance on the farm. They eat as much feed as serviceable 

 .work-horses, without any equivalent of usefulness. Our farmers are paying much 

 more attention to raising good horses. The lauds and pastures are now mostly ifenced, 

 so that owners of mustangs are compelled to either feed and care for them, or sell 

 them for what they can get. Much attention is al^so paid to the improvement of cat- 

 tle, sheep, and hogs, by crossing with fine imported stock. This and the adjoining 

 county of Mendocino are noted for producing the finest wool in the State. The large 

 increase in the number of milch cows (17.5 jter cent.) is owing to the fact that many 

 potato farmers oa the coast aie giving up this crop as unprofitable, and devoting their 

 farms to dairies, which experience has proved to be more profitable than raising cul- 

 tivated crops, wherever the location is adapted to this branch of business. 



Franklin, Iitd. — The raising of mules, which a few years ago was common here, has 

 almost ceased. Parmers are coming back to the use of the horse generally. An ex- 

 perience of twenty years with mules makes us prefer the horse for general purposes. 



Alameda, Cal.— There has been th e heaviest fall-clip of wool ever produced in the State. 

 The most of it is now in market, but the sales have been very limited, and at reduced 

 prices. Stock is generally looking thin, and some farm-animals are dying for want of 

 feed. The old grasses, in large sections of the State, have become extremely short, and 

 for the want of rain the new feed has not come forward as usual. Cattle have been 

 and are snftering more than other kinds of stock. 



Farming aided by othek industries — Montcalm, Mich. — Corn, oats, and hay have 

 not been so low for years as now, on account of a decrease iu the business of lumber- 

 ing. Owing to the tightness of the money-market, there is but very little being done 

 in that line this winter. Flat River runs through this county. Last winter 200,000,- 

 000 feet were put into this river. This winter, the highest estimate is 20,000,000 feet. 



Tazewell, III. — Have given the prices of cereals, &c., at the river-towns, which is 5 

 to 6 cents higher than at the railroad-stations. 



Ogle, III. — The beet-sugar factory at Freeport, Stephenson County, is running in full 

 force, day and night, and is manufacturing a large amount of sugar of superior qual- 

 ity. The beets this year are very good, but not enough beets were produced to supply the 

 demand. The superintendent thinks he will get a sufficient quantity next year, as 

 those who cultivated them this year are greatly encouraged. More manufactories, such 

 as beet-sugar, corn-starch, and cheese factories, &c., are needed in the West, to manu- 

 facture its bountiful crude products into condensed marketable commodities, and thus 

 diversify industry and create a good home-market. 



Miscellaneous. — Hanover, Va. — The average yield of corn and tobacco is much re- 

 duced by the numerous small crops, or attempts at crops, of the freedmen. Their 

 cropping is generally nearly abortive. 



Labette, Kans. — One farmer, by way of experiment, cultivated and harvested from 

 one acre over 120 bushels of good, ripe pea-nuts, which he says will bringinthe market 

 over $1 per bushel. 



Steel, Minn. — The Osaka wheat.'was sown largely last spring, as the results of the two 

 previous sowings had been very favorable. That sown early and put iu well, generally 

 turned out well — from 20 to 30 bushels per acre ; but that sown late resulted badly, 

 some pieces not being worth cutting. The Scotch Fife, after many years of remarka- 

 bly successful crops, was thought to be running out ; but it proved the past season as 

 good as ever. In fact I have uot heard of a single failure of it. Early-sown grain in- 

 variably did the best, which accords with the general experience iu previous seasons. 



Northampton, Fa. — The wheat and rye look well; the favorable fall caused these 

 crops to spring up early, covering the ground like rich meadows, upon which we have 

 been pasturing our cattle for fear of the grain getting too heavy a top. This is always 

 done with us, care being taken not to put cattle on in wet weather. A heavy top with 

 a deep snow on causes the wheat to rot ; hence we resort to pasturing. 



Eipley.— Last year our county exported 200 bales of cotton ; this year it will export 

 over 500 bales. 



