112 



three report good or excoHput, six unpromismg. Houston makes tbe 

 best return. Of twenty-seven in Iowa, eiglit make a favorable report, 

 four medium, fifteen unfavorable. The counties making best returns 

 are Benton, Jeiferson, Mahaska, and Greene. In Nebraska, four counties 

 report a good appearance, eight lower than average. In Cuming, " wheat 

 is very promising, and it looks well in Burt, Madison, and Hall."' In 

 Kansas, twenty-five counties report wheat " badly iiijiired," or "frozen 

 out ; ■' fifteen "poor," or equivalent terms; rye appears better, but is not 

 much grown, 



Eeturns from the Pacific coast are nearly all favorable, both in Cali- 

 fornia and Oregon. In Stanislaus County, California it " Jiever looked 

 better ; " " very promising " in Tuolumne ; " A 2so. ] " in Monterey ; and 

 elsewhere favorable accounts are given. From Oregon there is not av. 

 unfavorable report ; the crop is represented to be fine in the countie: 

 of Benton, Tillamook, Polk, Clatsop, Yam Hill, Clackamas, Lane, Linn, 

 Curry, Grant, Columl)ia, Douglass, and Umatilla. 



COHDITIOM OF FARM AIN'IMALS. 



Horses and mules, the most valuable class of domestic animals, re- 

 ceive more uniformly the requisite care and protection than other stock. 

 If hay is scarce the deficiency is usually made good by extra supplies 

 of grain ; and yet the colts and young horses of thinly settled States 

 are often left to the same chances, for pasturage and shelter from the 

 rigors of winter, that are enjoyed by the less valuable stock of the 

 range. With the exception of suffering from the seyerit^^ of the past 

 winter apiong this class of unstabled horses, mainly in the milder 

 climates of the country, both horses aud mules are reported to be in 

 average condition. 



While pecuniary considerations appear to govern the action of farmer.^ 

 in the care of the dumb brutes committed to their protection, it is hoped 

 that no respectable stock-grower will disregard tlie common dictates of 

 humanity in his treatment of his dependents, A close view of the sub- 

 ject will show that its monetary and humanitarian aspects are usually 

 in harmony ; and a man who is a man indeed will be willing to make 

 some pecuniary sacrifice, in emergencies, rather than subject his farm- 

 stock to avoidable suffering. The terrible loss of brute lives by the 

 winter's severity, as recently expeiienced in Texas, in Kansas and Xe- 

 braska, and in Colorado and Wyoming, should be avoided, as far as 

 practicable, by better provision for scarcity of feed, resultiug from 

 droughty deep snows, and other causes, and by greater care in provid- 

 ing stock with shelter, either natural or artificial. 



CONDITION OF CATTLE. 



The short hay crop of last year, and the severity of the past winter, 

 have taxed the feeding resources of Maine farmers to the utmost. The 

 immbers were reduced as much as possible in the autumn, an unusual 

 quantity of grain has been fed, and yet many have "died. The deficient 

 supply has not been made good, in York " a large proportion are in 

 fair condition, but some persons are short of hay, and choose to stint 

 'their stock rather than buy;" in Franklin, cattle arc in good order, 



