21 



This demand abroad will, in all probability, continue favorable, for the 

 prices of meats in the English markets are sustained, whilst those of cereals 

 or breadstuffs have declined. The following comparison of these prices is 

 taken from the London Mark Lane Express, of March 7. Flour was then 

 but 84 cents per 112 pounds higher than in 1850, a year of low prices, whilst 

 beef was $4 44 higher per 112 pounds, mutton 7| cents per pound higher, 

 veal 4| cents per pound higher, and pork $1 12 per 112 pounds higher, than 

 they were in 1850. Here is a great difference, especially in beef and mutton, 

 "the two principal articles of consumption," as the Express says. That 

 there is an increased consumption of meats in Great Britain is seen in these 

 prices, and in the fact that more lands are being put down in grass. As 

 the consumption of our meats increases there, the more will they be liked. 



All these statistics admonish our farmers not to neglect cattle-raising ; 

 but keeping their attention constantly on the increase or decrease of any 

 stock, and the causes of demand, to timely avoid a scarcity on the one hand, 

 and an over-supply on the other. 



4. Cows. — The general scarcity of butter and cheese, and their very high 

 prices at this time, show that the home markets for them demand a larger 

 supply. The increase of cows since 1859 has been 339,784 in the loyal 

 States; but with these, as with other stock, the decrease in Kentucky and 

 Missouri shows that the increase for the rest of the loyal States has been 

 greater than this general increase indicates. The reported decrease of Mis- 

 souri is, however, less for cows than for most other stock. The general in- 

 crease of cows from 1850 to 1860 was 36 per cent., whilst our tables show 

 it to be not quite 6 per cent, in the loyal States between 1859 and 1864. 



The table published in the last report, page 37, shows that whilst the in- 

 crease of butter last year was but one-tenth, the increase in price was three- 

 teiiths. The exports of butter to foreign markets have been as follows : 



1861 $4,190,745 



1862 6,091,831 



1863 7,176,648 



And those of cheese, as follows : 



1861 : $3,181,171 



1862 4,673,889 



1863 5,603,884 



Surely, in all these statistics our farmers must see that too much care 

 cannot be given to an increase of cows, and to butter and cheese manufac- 

 ture. 



5. Sheep. — There is no cha ge in our agriculture so gratifying as the in- 

 crease in sheep. By our table it is 9,242,119, or about 61 per cent., since 

 1859, most of it being in the last three years. All the stock raising States 

 have participated in it, except Kentucky and Missouri. But the returns 

 from the first show a present increase; and in the latter, that the decrease 

 occasioned by the war has been arrested. The emigration of this stock from 

 one State to another has been unusually great, for the want of cotton created 

 such a demand for wool for home and factory manufacture, that every farmer, 

 great and small, sought to have a flock of sheep, if he had none previously, 

 or to have his old one enlarged. 



The increase during this spring will add from four to five millions to the 

 number in January; raising the whole number to nearly thirty millions, or 

 double what it was in 1859 in the loyal States. 



But little need be said as to the- future markets for wool and mutton. 

 Until a peace is conquered, and a fair crop of cotton is raised, wool will be 

 remunerative, even if it falls considerably in price after peace and before 

 the production of such cotton crop, for the general deficit in textile material 



