195 



fully wiatered, at least in tbispartof Kansas, without feed and shelter." 

 In Greenwood, the report states that a considerable number have died 

 and more must unless grass starts soon, and that the surviving are in the 

 worst condition for several years. It adds : " The winter has been mild, 

 but there have been frequent rain and snow storms, making the ground 

 muddy, and as most farmers feed on the ground, much of the hay fed 

 has been tramped in the mud and wasted.'" In Washington, while the 

 condition of cattle along the streams is good, on the prairies, though 

 grass was abundant, many have died for want of water. Our reporter 

 remarks: " Water is a necessity which no amount of feed can super- 

 sede, I have cattle in good condition that have gone through the win- 

 ter on straw and pure running water, to which they have free access." 

 Howard, Barton, Osage, Butler, Cowley, Marion, Montgomery, Eice, 

 and Eiley are among the counties returning good condition. 



Out of twenty-one returns from Nebraska, fourteen are above average. 

 In Eichardson the condition is poor, from scant fodder and poor shelter. 

 In Cass, very i)oor from scarcity of corn ; Nemaha, rather poor from 

 less and poorer feed prepared last fall, and feeding sparingly of corn be- 

 cause of a prospect of a rise in the price ; Merrick, first rate " and 

 that without any feeding whatever;" Antelope, Hall, Stanton, Otoe, 

 and Furnas, quite superior. 



In California, the condition ranges from bad to very bad, without any 

 reported exception, as is stated in the introduction to this report. The 

 report from Plumas, except as to the depth of snow, will serve to illus- 

 trate the prevailing condition, though the per cent, of actual loss by 

 death is much, less than in some other counties : 



Not yet out of winter-quarters, for we have still two feet of snow on the ground — a thing 

 unparalleled at this date since the settlement of the county. The severity of the winter, and 

 the short crops of hay last season, compelled many farmers to shorten feed before mid-win- 

 ter, and hay cannot now be had at even fabulous prices. Old straw-stacks half rotten and 

 two or three years old have, in many cases, been resorted to, also feeding grain of any de- 

 f5cription, to prevent the actual starvation of stock. So far there has been but little actual 

 loss, and if we have mild, open Aveather soon, most of the stock can be saved, though con- 

 siderably emaciated. 



In Utah, the winter has been unusually long and severe, and conse- 

 quently the prevailing condition of stock is unfavorable. In five out of 

 ten counties reported, it is below average. In Beaver, worse than ever 

 known ; very bad in Kane, San Pete, and Iron ; in the latter, a great 

 many have died from cold and starvation. In Davis, it is poor where 

 farmers by reason of the prolonged winter have got out of feed ; but 

 in other cases, good. New Mexico reports average condition in Mora, 

 good in Taos and Santa Fe. In Arizona, Maricopa, cattle are fat, but 

 in Yavapai low in condition, because herded out and exposed to all the 

 storms of a hard, wet winter. In Colorado and the Territories east of 

 the mountains, the winter was milder and the general condition as in 

 the States is above average. From Montana, Missoula reports that it 

 is excellent, and Lewis aud Clarke that it was never excelled. From 

 Dakota, Bon Homme reports the winter so mild that cattle have run on 

 the open prairie, and done well on the old grass, and are now in extra 

 good condition. In Davis, cattle have improved duriug the winter on 

 the wild prairie-hay, " the only feed they have," and come out in first- 

 rate condition, as they do also in Hanson, 



CONDITION OF SHEEP. 



As exigencies of weather and abundance or 'scarcity of feed affect 

 cattle and sheep very nearly in the same degree, in the absence of any 

 prevailing disease among either class, it may be inferred that the gen- 



