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THE TABLE OF STOCK FOR THE YEARS 1859 AND 1864. 



The preceding table of farm stock for the year 1859 is taken from the 

 returns of the census of 1860, and for 1864 has been estimated, taking the 

 census returns as a basis, and those of our correspondents, published in the 

 last bi-monthly report, as a means of aiding in computing the number on this 

 basis. It is presented not with the same confidence in its approximation 

 to correctness which we had in our estimates of the crops published in 

 the September and October reports, but with the belief that it is entitled 

 to much weight. The plan of taking these statistics could not have been 

 put to a severer test than in the formation of this table Political events 

 checked the numerical increase of stock in 1861 and 1862, and the war 

 has made heavy demands for horses and mules, and increased that for 

 cattle and hogs. It has called into the greatest activity every effort to sup- 

 ply the want of cotton by the increase of sheep. This demand, the presence 

 of war in some of the loyal States, and the scarcity of food in others, have 

 created an unusual movement of stock from one State to another. The 

 usual per cent, increase cannot be relied upon as a means of determining 

 the numbers for 1864 for each of the States in the tables. Had this depart- 

 ment been in existence in 1860, and every year since made estimates of 

 the amount of the farm stock, more especially if the census returns for each 

 county had been published, and estimates on these had been annually made, 

 then the difficulties now existing would have been measurably removed, 

 despite the existence of our national troubles, and their disturbing effects 

 on stock production and consumption. But, nevertheless, we have much 

 confidence in the general correctness of the table, and hence publish it. 



A brief notice of each kind of stock, of the causes affecting its decrease 

 or increase, and the practical lessons embodied in the returns, will not be 

 without interest and utility. 



1. Horses. — The decrease in these is 149,999 since 1859: but a greater 

 decrease than this is estimated in Kentucky and Missouri. From the census 

 returns, one-foinih has been deducted fur the losses by war in these States 

 in all kinds of farm stock. The Kentucky statistics for 1862 do not make 

 it so much in horses, but in all other kinds so nearly approximate to it that 

 we rely on this estimated decrease; for, so far as we can see, a heavier loss 

 should have been experienced in horses than in most other stock. 



This estimated decrease in Kentucky is 88,926 horses, and in Missouri 

 90,468 — together, 119,39*4; leaving, therefore, an increase in the other loyal 

 States of 29,895. But all the States have not increased. In the New Eng- 

 land States there has been a decrease of nearly fourteen thousand, repre- 

 senting the gradual decrease of horses in most of these States. The decrease 

 in New York and Pennsylvania show the purchases from them for the gov- 

 ernment, as do also the western States of Ohio and Indiana; but these latter 

 indicate in addition the effects of scarcity of food. Michigan and Illinois 

 are nearly the same as they were in 1859; the great increase of the latter 

 has been brought down by government demand and transfer to other States. 

 Wisconsin exhibits considerable increase, but that of Iowa is very great. 

 Even for a western State, the growth of Iowa has been extraordinary, and 

 it has, doubtless, received a large accession to its stock from immigration. 

 With all of its past and lecent troubles, Kansas presses steadily forward 

 in prosperity; and Minnesota, far north as it is, is rapidly advancing in 

 stock-raising. 



The future market for horses is encouraging. A correspondent in Ohio 

 informs us that farmers in his county were quitting horses and cattle, and 

 directing their attention to mules and sheep. Now an evil in our agricul- 

 ture is, that we are governed too much by present demand, and continue ia 



