22 



is great, as shown in the last report. But with peace will cease the goy- 

 ernment demand for clothing, whilst the scarcity of beef and pork will make 

 the demand for mutton insure good prices for it. Whether, tlien, the old 

 ewes, now kept longer than usual for breeding purposes, should be fattened and 

 sold for mutton, and snch wethers as have been kept longer than customary, 

 on account of the high price of wool, is a question that will demand the con- 

 sideration of all farmers, and a careful watching of political events. We 

 shall keep them well advised of every fact connected with these subjects, 

 and of such legislation by Congress as may tend to more firmly establish 

 wool production in the United States. 



If, as our supplies of wool increase, the imports of foreign wool shall be 

 checked, and the introduction of foieign woollen cloths be lessened, the 

 wool-grower may rest in better secnrity, than if he is to be subjected to the 

 ompetition of these, as he was prior to the rebellion. 



Hogs. — The great destruction of tlje corn crop last fall by frosts and other 

 causes has caused a decrease of this stock of 911,323. The high price 

 for hogs in 1859 and 18C0 created a large increase in the number during 

 1860. The low price of 1861 caused a great English demand for our pork 

 and lard in 1862, and the advance in prices in consequence encouraged 

 increased production in 1863. Rut the scarcity of corn not only checked it, 

 but resulted in the decrease just stated. 



In determining the state of future markets for pork, a reference to the 

 present home and foreign markets gives every encouragement. As already 

 stated, the number of hogs packed last season was about one million less 

 than in 1862-'63, and they were much lighter in weight. The active 

 demand and high prices for the products of pork indicate that the markets 

 will be bare next fall. 



Nor is the foreign trade less encouraging. From the general table of 

 exports of meats and of lard, butter, and cheese, published in the last report 

 (page 32,) we take the following table : 



Keeping in mind that these values represent our own currency prices, 

 and not the foreign gold standard of value, and that, therefore, a good deal 

 of this great increase is due to this cause, still we see from the table in the 

 last report that the increased quantities show a most satisfactory state of 

 our foreign trade in the hog products. 



With tlie return of our usual corn crops, therefore, our farmers need not 

 hesitate in giving more than usual attention to hog-raising. 



From this brief review of the condition of the markets in connexion with 

 the tables of stock, we see how highly encouraging are the causes which 

 ordinarily create profitable stock markets. 



THE PORK-PACKING OF THE WEST. 



The CiNciNKATi Price Current of April 6, contains the full returns of the 

 pork packed in the west during the past season. The hog product is an 

 interest of so great magnitude, that we give room for the summary state- 

 ment of these returns. 



