119 



The general tenor of reports from the Carolinas aud Georgia is not 

 favorable, the v.inter having been severe, and in many places food 

 scarce from the drought of the preceding summer or the unusual late- 

 ness of spring pasture. In the counties of Harnett, Eockingham, 

 Franklin, Alexandria, and Transylvania, Xortb Carolina ; Lexington 

 and licrshaw, South Carolina; and Cobb, Heard, Clayton, and Pickens, 

 Georgia, insuiliciency of forage is especially noted, while in Madison, 

 North Carolina, the bad condition is supposed by some I'arraers to be 

 the result of too free diet of acorns in the fall and early winter. Stokes 

 County, in the same State, also reports an abundant mast, but no ill 

 cfl'ects from it. The severity of the winter has told against the young 

 lambs in some localities, a loss of more than 50 per cent, being reported 

 in Davie County, North Carolina, and "lambs dying last" in Fanuiu, 

 Georgia; and in McDuffee County, same State, the loss of old sheep is 

 estimated at 20 per cent. 



Although these unfavorable reports cover a majority of the counties 

 in each of the three last-named States, a large minory of the returns 

 indicate an " average" condition, and irom that up to "very fine "in 

 Forsyth, North Carolina. About the same condition obtains in Florida, 

 but in the other Gulf States, Arkansas, and Tennessee, m.ore than two- 

 thirds of the counties reporting range from " average" to " better thau 

 for ten years," iii Hunt and Williamson, Texas. Where the returns are 

 unfavorable, it is generally attributed to the severity of the winter and 

 lateness of spring. The most prominent statements of this character are 

 from Hillsborough, Florida; Livingston, Choctaw, ajid Bibb, Alabama; 

 Yalabusha, Jasper, Grenada, 'and Yazoo, Mississippi; Yv'ashington, 

 Louisiana ; Fayette, Nueces, and Cherolcee, Texas, (the only untavorable 

 reports from that State;) Columbia and Independence, Arkansas; and 

 .Sevier, London, Giles, and Johnson, Tennessee. In Conecuh, Alabiuua, 

 two-thirds of the lambs were lost frcen late cold weather and rains, 

 although the adult sheep wers looking well. Fentress, Tennessee, also 

 reports considerable mortality among lambs. 



Correspondents in nine counties of West Virginia report less thau 

 an average condition; of these. Tucker and Randolph return "verj' 

 poor," Berkeley " poor and feeble," the rest using adjectives of lesser 

 linport. In Upshur County " sheep have done remarkably well, consid- 

 ering they have been without shelter or grain-feed," and in Mercer they 

 have wintered better than cattle, one flock of four hundred head having 

 subsisted upon short grass and the roots of blue grass, with less than 

 one ton of hay. Other returns vary from " good" to " excellent." 



From the western States, (California excepted,) and also from the 

 Territories, come very generally cheering reports, not one of contrary 

 tenor from Ohio ; and only tlie counties of ]\Iacomb and Mecosta, 

 Michigan ; Crawford, Perr3', and Switzerland, Indiana; Jersey, Illinois; 

 Iowa, Wisconsin; Nicollet and Winona, Minnesota; Grundy, Iowa; 

 and a very small proportion of those in tlie other Sta,tes marring the 

 favorable showing. 



In a fevf localities complaint is made of the shedding of wool from 

 the effects of the severe winter or scab, the most marked instance being 

 in l)e Kalb County, Missouri, where many are reported "naked from 

 sea.b, and dying from poor keeping." In Ottawa, Michigan, thej' " suf- 

 fered considerably with ticks, from close confinement, and most of the 

 lombs perished." Loss of wiiiter lambs is also reported in Fayette, 

 Ohio, although the dams were in good condition. Few complaints have 

 been ■'^uide of scarcity of provender, and a general inclination to give 

 more attention to this class of stock is evinced. 



