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CONDITION OF FARM-ANIMALS. 
As a general rule cattle and sheep went into winter-quarters in good 
condition. Up to the 1st of March, in all sections of the country east 
ef the Rocky Mountains, the winter was extraordinary for its mildness, _ 
diminished area and quantity of snow, and comparative freedom from 
hard storms. One consequence was, unusual exemption from diseases 
affecting farm-stock ; another, a greatly diminished demand for stored 
feed. Owing to this latter, together with generous hay and corn crops, 
the localities have been very few and limited in extent in which suffer- 
ing and emaciation from hunger could not be prevented by anything 
like reasonable precaution and care. In those sections which make no 
provisions for sheltering, and little or none for feeding stock in winter, 
the mildness of the weather and their consequent success in sufficiently 
providing for their own wants and comfort, resulted in conditions of 
health and vigor, which enabled them for the most part to withstand, 
without great loss or depreciation, the extraordinary cold and storms of 
March, which, east of the Pacific slope, was much harder on stock than 
either of the previous months. Hence unusually full county returns 
approach unanimity in reporting the condition of cattle and sheep 
throughout the country on the 1st of April as one of unprecedented 
health and thrift. 
CATTLE. 
The condition ranges from good up to remarkably good, best for years, 
&e.,in all returns from New England except Franklin, Vermont, in which, 
though some stocks are looking remarkably well, yet the general condi- 
tien is thought to be not quite average, owing to the unusually early sea- 
son at which cattle came to the barn. 
In full returns from the Middle States and Maryland the general range 
from good to never better, is but slightly qualified in seven counties. 
From New York, Niagara reports that the winter has been too warm to 
stimulate a vigorous appetite, and Livingston that poor shelter and 
changeable weather have brought the condition somewhat below average. 
In Lancaster and Pike, Pennsylvania, and in New Castle, Delaware, 
cattle are somewhat poor, owing to scarcity of feed. | 
Returns are equally favorable from the South Atlantic and Gulf 
States. Out of over sixty from Virginia, the only decidely unfavorable 
one is from Scott, which reports that owing to the prevalence of ‘ mur- 
rain and hollow-horn,” many cattle have died and the survivors are very 
poor. They are reported as poor in Patrick and in Lunenburgh, for want 
of care and feed. Healthy but poor in Clarke, owing to scarcity of long 
feed, and rough weather in March; very lean in Franklin; very thin in 
Northampton, owing to neglect; very poor in Greenville, that being the 
usual or average condition. On the other hand, the condition is much 
above average in Page, for the reason that farmers are learning the wis- 
dom of properly feeding and sheltering stock in inclement weather. 
The condition is the best for many years in Craig, Middlesex, South- 
ampton, King and Queen, and better than ever before in Spottsyl- 
vania and Mecklenburgh. In a large portion of the other returns 
the range is between very good and never better. Over four-fifths 
of the returns from North Carolina indicate a condition above, and a 
large portion much above, average, while three or four refer to cattle as 
thin, or looking rough, or bad, without assigning the cause, and only 
two report a bad condition from want of food and care. In South Car- 
