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strict reference to profit, no cases are reported of prevailing diseases, 
except such as depend upon general or climatic influences which no care 
can anticipate, as, for example, the epizootic influenza of horses. As 
our correspondent in Piscataquis, Me., judiciously observes, the farmers 
of that region have learned that to get the most profit out of stock, the 
animals must be kept in a thrifty condition. The natural difficulties in 
the way of thestock-raiser in New England, the long winters and the long 
and expensive feeding-seasons, are probably greater than in any other 
section. Yet here true economy has shown the economic value of care, 
shelter, and abundant food. In milder climates and on more productive 
soils, to the westward and southward, local diseases have prevailed and 
stock-farmers have been subjected to losses simply from lack of attention 
te these brute dependents. Our correspondence contains abundant 
evidence of the fact that disease has frequently been engendered, and in 
other cases fostered, by the foul condition of hog-pens and stables, and 
by the imperfect nutrition of animals turned out to face the storms of 
winter without shelter and with such scanty supplies of food as they 
were able to pick up in the field, forest, or public highway. Yet there 
are indications of improvement in this respect in sections of the country 
where the cruel aud uneconomical methods of stock-keeping have been 
most prevalent. 
The protection of farm-animals, especially sheep, from the ravages of 
dogs is a policy which has gained ground in those States where the nui- 
sance has been most severely felt. Arkansas and Tennessee have both 
passed laws imposing taxes upon dogs, and providing for the destruc- 
tion of those not registered. <A bill of this character passed the Georgia 
house of representatives, but failed in the senate. Another step in the 
right direction will secure the stringent enforcement of these laws, and 
sheep-raisers in those sections begin to be hopeful of a profitable enter- 
prise. Yet this necessary reform is still encountered by strong preju- 
dices and by alow class of corruptinterests. One of our correspondents 
in a Southern State reports a conversation with a member of the State 
senate in which the senator acknowledged both the justice and necessity 
of the restrictive policy, but at the same time expressed the opinion 
that no politician could stand up before the storm of indignation which 
his vote in favor of a dog-law would produce. This shows -that the re- 
form must gain headway among the people before statesmen, even with 
the most enlightened views, will dare to inaugurate such legislation. 
Meanwhile the sheep and wool-producing interest is patiently suffering 
grievous losses. Pathetic complaints reach us of the destruction of 
valuable flocks in a single night by the onslaught of the curs. In 
many counties the nuisance amounts to a positive prohibition of sheep 
and wool raising. In the South, since the war, the evil has been greatly 
aggravated by the habit of keeping numerous dogs by freedmen. These 
animals, not being provided with food by their owners, are expected to 
provide for themselves, and unfortunately have recourse to the sheep- 
folds of the farmers. It is greatly to be regretted that this new class of 
citizens see proper to inaugurate their citizenship by a custom at war 
with the best interests of society; but the remedy will be found in 
bringing them to feel an intelligent interest in this matter by becoming 
sheep-raisers themselves. But the evil is by no means confined to this 
class. In the Middle States, and in some of their oldest counties, this 
nuisance is bitterly complained of. One correspondent in New York 
estimates that in his county there are twenty-five dogs to one sheep, 
and consequently sheep raising is practicable only within narrow limits. 
In the West, also, losses are very heavy in some counties, and public 
