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of the Northern or Western States or Territories. The healthfiilness of 

 climate, excellence and abmulance of water, the choice quality of native 

 gTasses and herbage, which cover the extensive unoccupied table lands, 

 and the mildness of the winter season, combine to render Idaho all that 

 could be desired for stock-gi'owiug purposes. It is claimed that no por- 

 tion of the continent in this latitude and of this altitude is favored with 

 winters so mild. During the past four winters stock have, in many 

 instances, fattened, and in all cases were in good, thrifty condition in 

 the spring, when allowed to forage at large, without prepared food or 

 shelter. Our local markets are supplied with the choicest beef and mut- 

 ton, fresh from the "range," every month in the year. Stock-growing, 

 as a thorough and systematic business, has been but recently engaged 

 in to any extent worthy of mention. 



AGKICULTUEE AND STOCK-KAISING IN TEXAS. 



Gonzales County, Texas. — The great mania for driving beef to Kansas 

 is likely, in fact certain, to produce a great revolution in the industrial 

 pursuits of this county. Already about 12,000 beeves have been started 

 from this county, and at least as many more are now in herd and being 

 gathered. It is believed that not less than 30,000 will leave this county 

 this season. Not only all beeves from two to four years old are being 

 driven, but it is estimated that at least one-third of the stock cattle will 

 be disposed of, and perhaps more. Good men of the country rejoice at 

 the fact. They are tired of seeing so fertile and pleasant a country 

 devoted to raising wild cattle upon a plan that demoralizes our youth, 

 retards internal improvements, and that only furnishes room for specu- 

 lators to enrich themselves upon the labor of others. It is the wish of 

 all that the cattle business be drawn into such limits as to make it 

 X)rofitable to tbose engaged in it, and enable the owners of stock to have 

 a voice in fixing the value of their property. If four-fifths of the cattle 

 can be taken from the country, the one-fifth left will pay better than the 

 whole. 



Refugio County. Texas. — A tithe of the capability of this county has 

 not been reached in her best developed interest. Texas has been desig- 

 nated as the meat-house of the United States. If she be so now, what 

 would she be with Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri farmers to 

 develop her capabilities? My opinion, formed from twelve years' expe- 

 rience in Texas, (I was for thirty years a Kentucky farmer,) is, that 

 from the same piece of land, and in one year, three crops may be taken, 

 either of which, judiciously fed, would make as much flesh as a crop of 

 corn in Kentucky or Illinois, similarly fed. You ask what would be the 

 crops. First, coni ; after that is laid by, we have a grass here known 

 as buffalo grass, but I regard it as a species of millet, that springs up, 

 making a lieavy yield, and equal to the best timothy ; after that is taken 

 off, either peas, beans, sorghum, or turnips may be planted; giving, as 

 before stated, three crops, either of which, in our mild climate, would 

 equal a crop of corn in any of the Western States in flesh-making capa- 

 bilities. 



FISH OFFAL FOR SWINE. 



Ifueces County, Texas. — Hogs have been healthy the entire year. An 

 extensive hog ranch has lately been established on Padre Island. Im- 

 mense quantities of fish are taken daily with a seine, cooked in large 

 kettles, and fed to the hogs. Up to this time they have done remarka- 

 bly well ; and, as the supply of fish is inexhaustible, and at no cost but 



