32 
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 
STYLE OF FARMING IN NEW ENGLAND.— Vermont.—Orleans : Within 
one mile of my house are kept, by ten farmers, 150 cows, 20 horses, 
1 yoke of oxen, 1 pair of yearling steers, about 25 yearling heifers, 15 
calves, 20 sheep, and 20 yearling pigs. In other parts of the county the 
stock is largely cows, and butter is the main product. All of the hay 
and straw is kept in barns. The stables for cows are made quite warm, 
and the cows are tied in stanchions, allowing three feet to each cow. 
Water is usually brought under ground, in logs or lead pipes, to a 
trough in the yard. We estimate that an average cow requires two 
tons of hay to keep her through the winter. Snow came November 1, 
and we expect to feed until the 20th of May. 
Connecticut.— Windham : Itis the prevailing custom of our best farmers 
to turn off two crops of hogs in the year, the one in the spring and the 
other in the fall. We fatten them till they weigh 175 to 200 pounds 
and then sell. We invariably keep them penned up. If we do not 
grow corn and other feed, we buy it. By this means we make manure 
and increase the fertility of the land. We formerly did a great deal of 
work on farms with oxen, but now horses have taken their place to a 
great extent. 
DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.—Minnesota.— Martin : Many yearling eattle 
have died lately. Some call the disease black-leg; others congestion of 
the lungs, or lung-fever. The blood seems to settle around the langs 
and through the chest. Upon inquiry I cannot learn that any have 
died except where they have fed on wheat and oat chaff and where 
they have been poorly salted. They are first noticed as stupid, and die 
in a few hours. 
Tennessee.— Grundy: Many cattle poisoned by seed of a pear-shaped 
fruit, upon a plant about two feet high. ‘The first etfect of the poison is 
excessive thirst, causing the animal to drink large quantities of water. 
It then puffs up, grows weak, lies down, and never rises again. It 
refuses fodder, and ceases to ruminate, dying in from one to four days. 
Stomach and entrails visibly “ blighted.” 
Missouri.—Holt: About 150 cattle have died from too rapid feeding 
with soft corn. 
VALUE OF POULTRY PRODUCTS.—Pennsylvania.—Bucks : One of my 
assistants wonders at the absence of poultry estimates in these reports. 
He justly remarks that if the extent of that interest were thoroughly 
examined into, it would be found a leading instead of a subordinate 
industry. Farmers through this county sell from $50 to $400 worth of 
poultry for each 100 acres of land. It is a source of much of the profit 
of farming. Many estimate it as second only to the dairy. 
Dogs.—Connecticut.— New London: Dogs have done much mischief in 
killing and hurting sheep and lambs. 
New York.— Wayne: Weare nearly overrun with worthless dogs. They 
multiply rapidly. 
New Jersey.—Burlington: For losses of sheep by dogs, $2,362 have been 
paid out, and one township has not yet reported. One township has 
paid $500, and nearly every township reports less than the actual num- 
ber. 
Pennsylwania.— Wyoming : This county is one of the best, if not the best, 
in the State in advantages for profitable sheep-raising. From any part 
droves of sheep or lambs ean start in the evening and be in market the 
next morning, with no car-fare or middlemen to pay, and the farmers 
