402 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



easily and cheaply raised, and bear a low price, thus reducing the 

 average value of the horses of the State. In some parts of Texas there 

 is a growing interest in horse raising. Cross-bred colts from Mexican 

 dams are jiroduced in large numbers, selling, when grown, at $20 to 

 $40, according to quality. A better cross from large American mares 

 is worth $80 when full grown. The average value of Texas horses of 

 all ages is less than half the average of the United States — $;32.;39 to 

 $72.15. The Arkansas markets are flooded with Mexican mustangs, 

 causing a reduction in j^rice in some localities. Mustangs have been 

 very generally distributed during the past year — considerably even in 

 the Ohio River region — among better stock, where a tendency exists 

 for heavier draft horses. • The great variety of uses of horses admits 

 of enlargement of demands for both large and small breeds. Minne- 

 sota horses are in demand farther west, and are beginning to be grown 

 for the Dakota supply. Horse raising is to some extent taking the 

 place of wheat. Numbers have increased largely in Kansas, partly 

 owing to immigration and partly to the establishing of large stock: 

 farms. The bronchos, or Mexicans, are distributed extensively 

 through the Pacific-coast States, reducing the average value by their 

 numbers. The increase is very heavy in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and 

 Washington from establishment of horse ranches. Oregon, Califor- 

 nia, and Minnesota show marked increase. 



The increase in mules has been less proportionally than in horses 

 during the past year, and is unequally distributed. Few are found in 

 New England or in the States of the Northern border, but they be- 

 come more numerous in the lower latitudes. 



The largest increase of milch cows is in the States receiving immi- 

 gration, and in the Territories where mining and other industries are 

 increasing. The increase has been slow in several of the Western 

 States on account of the low price of butter. There is indicated, how- 

 ever, a tendency to improvement in quality. It is recognized that 

 the profits of a dairy, where the margin is small, may be sacrificed by 

 the presence of a few poor cows. It is reported that a better feeling 

 exists since the passage of the olemargarine bill. 



There has been a considerable increase in other cattle, from a belief 

 that beef will pay better than wheat and cotton and other tillage crops, 

 declining less in unfavorable markets. A larger number of calves 

 has been raised, and in the ranch regions cows have been retained in 

 the herds, while bullocks have gone to market ; and though there was 

 heavy loss last winter in some districts, there is increase of numbers in 

 in the feeding grounds of the plains and mountains. 



Sheep have been reduced heavily in numbers, under the influence 

 of low prices of wool, to such extent that the comparative scarcity, 

 with increasing wool values in other pai-ts of the world, has given 

 prices an upward turn, and sheep are already coming into greater de- 

 mand. In all j)arts of the world wool prices liave recently been low, 

 and numbers liave decreased in <;ther countries, causing the rise in 

 vahie that has recently taken ])laco. 



The numbers of swine are also less than a year ago. The ravages 

 of cholera have been so heavy, that stock hogs have not been kept up 

 to the recent standard of supply. The reduction is also felt in the re- 

 ceipts of slaughtering establishments. 



