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and sleet, or a protracted norther, suffering is experienced, the flesh 

 reduced, and vitality inii)aired. In proportion as nature is kind, man 

 thus becomes cruel; if his kindly services may, in part, be dispensed 

 with, he becomes totally negligent, and inflicts upon his own pocket 

 losses proportionate to the lueasure of his own inhumanity and to the 

 sufferings of the dumb creatures that minister to his wants. 



A large crop of excellent hay well grown and cured without damage, 

 in the Keic England States^ aided by the mild winter weather, has kept 

 the cattle of that region in excellent condition. The reports are all of 

 this tenor, without exceptions sufliciently marked to require notice. 

 The remark of the correspondent of Hillsborough County : " I never 

 knew hay to spend better," is generally applicable; and equally true the 

 suggestion from Coos, that " If there is any trouble with stock, it must 

 be from neglect." " Never looked better," is a common report. A 

 statement from Piscataquis, Maine, giving, as one cause of superior con- 

 dition, the acknowledged fact that " farmers generally take better care 

 of stock than formerly in this county," has, properly, a more general 

 application. 



In the Middle States farm stock wintered extremely well. A " sur- 

 plus of fodder" is reported in many places ; " plenty of clover and other 

 hay;" "cattle scarce and fodder plenty." In Hunterdon County, New 

 Jersey, hay was gathered late, with less of nutriment than usual, and 

 the consequence was perceptible in reduced flesh of farm animals. In 

 Warren, Pennsylvania, the crop, though abundant, was also somewhat 

 injured; but adverse returns are rare exceptions. 



Stock did well in Maryland^ generally; to some extent the changeable 

 and stormy weather of March told upon unhoused stock. It is noticed 

 in Baltimore County that cattle are thinner than usual. 



Virginia. — Small provision is made forAvinter sui>[)liesof stock in this 

 State. Hay, corn, and fodder are fed to a considerable extent; but most 

 of the sheep, and large numbers of cattle, are left to find their own for- 

 age. In Louisa County, according to the returns, "the winter was so 

 warm that the grass scarcely died down, and remained green in many 

 places all the year." "Very many passed the winter in the fields" in 

 Amelia ; and in Bath cattle were pastured in the open fields, but are in 

 low condition on account of cold and wet weather. The correspondent 

 from York says: "Cattle are i)oor, as is always the case in this region, 

 where no hay is raised." In Highland they are " more thrifty than for 

 years ;" and the explanatory remark is added " the hay crop is good." 

 Cumberland, Patrick, Clarke, and Smythe make, comparatively, unfavor- 

 able reports. 



North Carolina furnishes less favorable returns than Virginia. While 

 cattle are thin and poor, quite too generally, it is gratifying to note ex- 

 ceptions, such as the following, in Stanley: "In better condition than 

 usual, from the introduction of clover lots and meadows." 



South Carolina. — In Marion County "cattle have suftered severely 

 from last year's failure of croi)s; are very jwor; large numbers may die 

 before the woods aflbrd sufficient pasture." 



In Georgia, the drought of last season reduced both summer and 

 winter supplies, which were supplemented, to some extent, by increased 

 stores of cotton-seed. The latter part of winter was cold, increasing the 

 discomfort and suiferings of i'arm animals. Scarcely an average con- 

 dition of stock can, tlierefore, be claimed in thii!^ State. The Carroll 

 correspondent says: "Owing to the cold, Avefc winter, and spring so far, 

 cattle are in a very i)oor condition. Grass and vegetation are almost 

 one mouth later." 



