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DISKASE AMONc; IIOHSKS. 



Ia'c, loun. — There is n ieai't'iil <li.s(';ise, ]iore mimoiii;- liorses. Vcterinariiins say it 

 is congestioii di' the small l)h)0(l-vess(>ls. It soiiictiiiies coimiiciiecis in the. limbs and 

 soiiuitimes in the head. It is something like erysipelas. If not attended to w]i(3n the 

 liorso is lirst taken it will soon terminate fatally. We had a very line horse die with 

 it. It commenced in her limbs, which began to swell, and ajipeared stiff; it (!xt<'nded 

 to her head, threat, and lungs. The throat swelled dreadfully. We poulticed with 

 may-weed until the swelling went down, but it broke inside. 



COTTON IN CALIFORNIA. 



Sonoma, Jnhj 20, 1872.— The cultivation of cotton, which has already proved a 

 success in Merced and otlier central counties in this State, is attracting the attention of 

 the more progressive of our own farmers. Accordingly, this year, the experiment of rais- 

 ing it here has been undertaken by Messrs. Miller & Nealy in Dry Creek Valley, The 

 plants at this time look thrifty, being full three feet high, with promises of an abun- 

 dant crop. Other parties have also engaged in its cultivation. Should the soil and 

 climate of this county be found tavorable to its production, there is no doubt that it 

 will, ere long, be very extensively cultivated. Siiccessive cultivation of wheat for 

 years has very much impoverished the soil. Our farmers must seek some other crops, 

 or ruin their lands. Cotton may fill this want ; and, if so, Sonoma County, with its 

 genial climate, and rich, productive soil, may soon help to restore king cottou to his 

 throne. 



CONDITION OF COTTON IN SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. 



BrookviUe, Noxuhee County, Missism.ppi, August 29, 1872. — The cotton crop I regard as 

 ^i failure, resulting from various causes. One-third of the crop of this county was 

 planted very late, and, owing to the long dry spell, did not come up iu time to make a 

 good yield. Tliis late planting is now being discovered by that pest the army- 

 worm. This young cotton, which, a few days ago, promised a large yield, say from 800 

 to 1,000 pounds per acre, will not make on the average 200 pounds seed-cotton. I do 

 not regard a single bloom that has appeared within the last fifteen days, or that shall 

 hereafter appear, as of any account. Nearly all the young bolls have dropped, or are 

 now being destroyed by the worm stripping the young bolls of the cup surrounding 

 them, and thus stopping their growth. The rust has taken possession of all the poor 

 upland cotton, being now dry as stubble. Last week, iu visiting Columbus, I saw 

 considerable sandy land, and did not see an acre that would pi'oduce 300 pounds ; many 

 acres will not yield 200 pounds. This same land last year made from 800 to 1,000 pounds 

 seed-cotton. I am safe in saying that the crop, not only of this, but also of Lowndes 

 County, and Pickens County, Alabama, has fallen off at least 50 per cent, within the 

 last twenty days. To make a large yield, we should have bloom until September 10, 

 but this year very little bloom after August 10 will make cotton. The three counties, 

 j^oxubee, Lowndes, and Pickens, Alabama, will not make as much as they did last year. 

 If the general crop is no better than iu these three counties, it cannot reach .3,00*0,000 

 bales. Our labor is doing finely — gathering the crop rapidly. Nearly the entire crop 

 will be oj)eu in a few weeks, as the sun can directly reach the bolls, since iu a few days 

 anore all the leaves will be destroyed by the worms. 



POISONOUS PASTURAGE. 



Columbia, Florida. — There is a belt of land, some two or three miles wide by ten or 

 twelve long, upon which no cattle can be raised, an occasional case excepted. They are 

 attacked with ftux or scours, which reduces them very fast, and soon causes their death. 

 It is called by the old herdsmen here, " pond disease," but the few cypress ponds 

 are hardly sufficient to account for it, since we find similar jionds where the cattle 

 are quite healthy. Some residents of the section have not raised more than a 

 cow or two in ten years, but have lost a great many bought and takeu there. Cattle 

 grazing upon it for a week or two are rendered almost incurable. Frequent salting and 

 bleeding by cutting ears and tail, are the principal remedies resorted to, and in bad 

 cases they avail very little. Some think it is caused by eating certain vegetables ; 

 thers by the devvs ; while others assert that cattle may feed on the affected belt 

 hrough the day and remain healthy if driven off at night. There has been some fever 

 mong our cattle, doubtless originating from grazing on overflowed lauds, which has 

 x.'en done in many localities since the excessive rains of August and September last. 

 It was confined mostly to young cattle, about 10 per cent, of which died. 



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