204 
an authenticated instance of communicating the infection through sheep, and 
rarely has any of the race taken the disease, even in the midst of herds dying 
of the most virulent forms of rinderpest. 
While extreme caution, as long as the danger exists, is highly important, the 
wool interests of this country would be greatly subserved by the introduction 
of improved English stock from districts which have been entirely free from 
rinderpest for the last ten or twelve months. 
The information sought will prove important to many others. 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
J. W. STOKES, 
Acting Commissioner. 
Hon. Hueu McCuttoca, 
Secretary of the Treasury. 
——— . 
’ TreEASURY DEPARTMENT, 
June 15, 1867. 
Sir: Your letter of this date has been received, inquiring if the laws and 
regulations guarding against the introduction of the rinderpest prevent the im- 
portation of sheep, and in reply you are advised that the law is pointed only 
at neat cattle, and the hides of neat cattle, and that there has been no restric- 
tion placed upon the importation of sheep. J would suggest, however, that as 
it is said the disease is sometimes communicated through the medium of wool, 
either in the fleece or upon the sheep, it would be prudent to cause sheep com- 
ing from countries where the disease prevails to pass through a disinfecting 
process if practicable. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, 
H. McCULLOCH, 
Secretary of the Treasury. 
Hon. J. W. STOKES, 
Acting Commissioner of Agriculture. 
THE SCAB IN TEXAS SHEEP. 
The following is furnished by Thomas Affleck, a well-known citizen of 'Texas, 
residing at Brenham, Washington county : 
“The writer, a citizen of Texas, anxious to inform himself thoroughly of the 
causes which make sheep-farming, whether in breeding or feeding, so successful 
in the little island of Great Britain, whilst very moderately so in the United 
States, made this the subject of close investigation there during the past win- 
ter. The results may be of general interest ; but especially to those engaged in 
sheep-farming in the southern and western States. There is no other branch of 
farming in which so much has been made during the past twenty-five years in 
Great Britain, as in this; and that, be it understood, in the regular breeding 
and feeding of sheep for their, wool and mutton. 
“ Mutton is a much more popular article of food in England than in America, 
and is always fed up to the highest point of perfection, as to fatness, attainable 
at the early age at which the animal is slaughtered. 
«To my taste, with the exception of an occasional slice or rib of the black-faced 
mutton of Scotland, fed more on grass than on turnips and oil-cake, it is gen- 
erally surpassed in delicacy of flavor and juiciness by that fed upon the Ber- 
muda grass of Mississippi, or the mesquit grass of Texas. 
“It is unnecessary to discuss here the different breeds, and their comparative 
excellence for mutton or wool. All are bred, fed, and handled with the utmost 
