115 



and depending almost entirely upon the range for subsistence. The re- 

 ports of heavy losses from actual starvation are frequent, amounting to 

 50 per cent, of some herds in Newton County. In Wayin^, also, many 

 losses are re])orted, and a rapid deterioration in the ranges has caused 

 a decrease of 80 per cent, in some herds within the past eighteen years. 



Several reports from Louisiana are fiivorfvbl©, but the majoi^ty repre- 

 sent cattle as suffering from the severity of the winter. The need of 

 care and shelter is repeatedly acknowledged. The La Fourche Re- 

 porter says : '• C 'attle need shelter, as in the North." In some i>laccs the 

 losses are heavy, especiallj- on the Attakapas prairies, Vi^here one stock- 

 raiser lost, four hundred to five hundred out of three thousand, one hun- 

 dred dying immediately after the snow-storm of March 1. Thousand.^ 

 of cattle are estimated to have perished in Louisiana from exposure. 



Three-fifths of the returns from Texas represent condition of cattle 

 below an a-serage. Among the counties in which stock is in " good " or 

 superior condition are Re<l Eiver, Fort Bend, Ellis, (better than for 

 many years,) Colorado, (bettor than ever before,) Grayson, Blanco, Aus- 

 tin, Kendall, Williams, Ilnnt, (better than for two-years,) Titus, Collin, 

 Galveston, Harris, (20i)er cent, better than last year,) Marion, Bell, and 

 Anderson. The following extracts ]nvsent a less desirable aspect of tlie 

 case : 



Medina, Texas. — Many lossos, principnllyof old cows, from insnfuniont pasture ou the 

 prairies, ovring to the dry fall. Improving rapidly now. 



Enslc, Texan. — Poor; no shelter bnt the forest, and no food but dry grass and shrubs. 



Neuces, Texa-i. — Very poor. Unusually dry for the past y«ar, and water scarce. Cat- 

 tle died by thousands in the winter, and if wo have no rain soon, many cows will bo 

 unable to raise their calves. 



Befugh, T'exaa. — Wretched, and the loss frightful ; the result of the ruinous system 

 of turning the cattle out upon the prairies with no provision for the contingencies of 

 bad weather, «fcc. 



Bee, Texas. — Loss, 25 per cent. Not less than fifteen thousand cattle have died of 

 starvation and cold weather ; ten thousand hides saved. 



While the winter in Arkansas has been unusually severe, the condi- 

 tion of farm animals has been good in a majority of the counties. In 

 Independence County cattle are represented to be in a wretched condi- 

 tion — worse than for fifteen years ; and very poor in Montgomery, where 

 there are " no winter-quarters but the woods, and woods-pastures are 

 gradually deteriorating, so that all cattle -^111 soon have to be fed in 

 winter." 



A majority of reports from Tennessee are comparatively favorable. 

 The counties making the best returns are Wayne, Johnson, Meigs, Law- 

 rence, Eobertson, Ehea, Polk, Coiiee, Putnam, Decatur, Blount, Hum- 

 phreys, and Obion. In Putnam " more a^ttention is given to sheltering." 

 Sevier- has had the " severest winter for fifteen years." 



The favorable returns from Kentucky greatly outnumber those of poor 

 condition. The winter has been long and severe, and feeding Avas still 

 continued. 



A majority of the reports fi'om the Ohio valley and lake States are 

 decidedly favorable. A few items from correspondence will give an idea. 

 of their varied chaiacter. 



West A'ihginia. — Focalioidas : Fine condition in spite of variable winter. Crccit- 

 biiar : Bad condition and considerable loss. Winter long and cold ; feed scarce ; some 

 grazera are cutting linn and sugar timber to keep their cattle alive. Marion : Cattle 

 look well when well fed. Hay scarce. Bcrlclct/ : Exceedingly poor and weak ; many 

 will probably die. Clai/ : Finer than for years. 



Ohio. — Logan : Cattle in unusually good heart and condition. Winter pasture has 

 been too much depended iipon, though oar bhie-grass beds, Ji;taiuing their verdui'o 

 through summer and winter, have had their iuHuenee for good, £"«i)ti7ifct); ; Better 

 ihan last year ; better care taken. Fraiildiii : Most excellent ; much better care taken, 



