132 
CONDITION OF THE FARM STOCK OF THE UNITED STATES. 
The increasing magnitude of this interest, and the enhancement of values 
through judicious crossing and more liberal keeping and skillful management, 
render important a careful investigation into the condition of the farm stock of 
the country. The opening spring, when flocks and herds emerge from the 
severities of winter to depasture sweet and nutritious grasses, is the proper time 
for such a review. The increase of disease, from want of feed and care, and 
possibly from deterioration in constitution, by injudicious breeding and manage- 
ment, suggests the urgent necessity of examination into its character, causes, 
and results. An interest involving a capital of fourteen hundred millions, with- 
out reference to investments in lands, buildings, and incidentals, demands the 
watchful care of public guardians of our national resources. 
The following queries were embraced in a circular to correspondents, which 
was made returnable April 15th : ‘ 
The correspondents of the statistical division are respectfully requested to 
answer the following queries, in detail, as fully as may be practicable. The 
answers, of course, cannot be given in the usual definite mode, by tenths, but an 
opportunity is afforded for a statement of isolated facts of great importance, in 
such terms and at such length as may be agreeable to correspondents: 
1. Has there been any prevailing disease among cattle in your county during 
the past year? If so, what disease, and to what extent ? 
2, Has the Spanish fever prevailed among cattle in your county? If so, 
when did it appear, what has been the loss, and what method of treatment has 
been followed ¢ 
3. Has the hog cholera prevailed? Ifso, what has been the loss, and what 
remedies employed ? 
4. What diseases have prevailed among sheep, and to what extent ? 
5. Has any unusual disease prevailed among horses? 
6. What proportion of wool remains on hand compared with the whole amount 
of last year’s clip ? 
7. In what condition have sheep come out of winter quarters ? 
8. Are Cotswolds, Leicesters, South Downs, or other mutton breeds, more or 
less abundant than formerly? Please state definite facts, in actual experience, 
of the cost of keeping, amount of wool, &c., of these breeds, in comparison with 
Merinoes. No estimates are wanted, but actual facts, as full as may be practi- 
eable, from individuals who have bred both long and fine wool sheep. 
9. What is the comparative condition of winter wheat ? of winter rye ? 
These circulars were sent to all regular correspondents, and the returns were 
very complete, both in point of numbers and of particular details. Very few 
cases of omission, even of a single item occurred. The result indicates a gen- 
erally favorable sanitary condition of farm stock, while it reveals disease and re- 
sultant loss, in particular localities, sufficient to excite apprehension and stimu- 
late vigilance in applying that prevention which is always so much safer and 
cheaper than attempted cure. Small as such percentage of loss may be, the 
aggregate would astonish the farmers of the country. Cattle have suffered less 
from disease than any other kind of live stock. Horses stand next to cattle in 
sanitary condition. Sheep have been attacked by a variety of diseases, includ- 
ing starvation, and the consequent fatality has been considerable. Swine, 
always more subject to disease than any other farm animals, have been as un- 
healthy as ever during the past year. The widely prevailing hog cholera has 
claimed its victims by thousands, and has been scarcely excluded from any sec- 
tion of the country, 
