KEPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 29 



While the winter in Arkansas was unusually severe, the condition of 

 farm-animals was good in a majority of the counties. In Independence 

 County cattle were represented to be in a wretched condition, M^orse 

 than for fifteen years ; and very poor in Montgomery, where there are 

 "no winter-quarters but the woods, and woods pastures are gradually 

 deteriorating, so that all cattle will soon have to be fed in winter.'' 



A majority of reports fronj Tennessee are comparatively favorable. 

 The counties making the best returns are Wayne, Johnson, Meigs, 

 Lawrence, Eobertson, Ehea, Polk, Coffee, Putnam, Decatur, Blount, 

 Humphreys, and Obion. In Putnam "more attention is given to shel- 

 tering." Sevier had the " severest winter for fifteen years." 



The tixvorable returns from Kentucky greatly outnumber those of poor 

 condition. The winter was long and severe;, and feeding was continued 

 late. 



A majority of the reports from the Ohio Valley and Lake States were 

 decidedly favorable, many referring to better care bestowed on cattle. 

 Regular feeding and salting were accorded a share of the credit of good 

 condition ; the favorable weather, and especially the absence of storms 

 of sleet, were important auxiliaries. In some localities exceptions ap- 

 peared, as in Greenbrier, West Virginia, where a few gra/iers cut down 

 linn and sugar maples for browse, and in Berkeley, Avhere cattle were 

 greatly reduced by exposure and fasting. 



West of the Mississippi, except in Iowa and Minnesota, where some 

 attention is given to shelter for stock, there were suHering and loss. 



In Missouri only twelve of seventy-two counties reporting showed 

 superior condition. 



In Kansas and jS'ebraska the suffering was great and the losses heav^^, 

 particularly among the uuacclimated Texas cattle, immense numbers of 

 which werekept over by drovers, in preference to selling at autumn prices. 

 Where cattle were properly sheltered and fed they did well. The fol- 

 lowing extracts refer to extreme cases of loss, mostly in Texan cattle: 



Kansas. — Oaagc : Many cattle very weak, others dyiii;^ ; seem to be starviug to doatli 

 while fed an abuudaiice of prairie-hay which was cut very rank. Ouly straw and corn 

 fodder has kept cattle alive. One man lost three hundred and fifty Texaus out of six 

 hundred. Many Texas cows do not give milk enough to keep their calves alive. 

 Marion : Losses through starvation from 20 to 75 per cent. ; last fall most of the prairie- 

 grass was burned. Native cattle average ; Texas horribly poor. Dick'tiisoit : Very poor 

 and weak. Lack of shelter and food. Thousands of Texans have died. Washhigton : 

 Native cattle fair ; Texas and Cherokee very poor ; many dyiugfrom inanition. Saline: 

 Winter harder than CA-er known. Native cattle have lost lightly ; Texans about one- 

 third. Stunner : Stock went into winter-quarters poor and are coming out jioorer. 

 Cattle kept in the range without feeding have suffered fearfully, some herds losing 7.j 

 per cent, and others 50 per cent. Those feeding hay have lost less, from 10 to 25 per 

 cent. A series of cold rains would just now complicate matters seriously. Xeosho : 

 Native cattle good; Texas cattle very poor. Morris: Texas cattle lost from 35 to 50 

 percent. Domestic cattle iu good condition. Greenicood: Winter severe on cattle; 

 hay less nutritious than usual; no tame grass sown; Avet summer made the prairie- 

 grass rank and poor ; very litte shelter provided ; hence more native cattle havo died 

 than usual, and the survivors are quite poor. Texas cattle have sutfered still more ; 

 losses from '20 to 50 per cent. Lincoln : Very poor, generally speaking ; cattle have 

 met with heavy losses. Of a herd of 4:51 Texas and 1:53 native cattle, one-half of the 

 former and one-fourth of the latter have died. About 8,000 Texan cattle wintered 

 in the countj'. 



Nebraska. — Xemaha : Condition fair, feed plenty. Texas cattle have suffered from 

 bad weather, and some have died. Madison : Cattle sheltered have done well, but very 

 many have died from lack of shelter. Boone: Eather thin; many settlers came too 

 late to put uj) hay. Wch>itcr : Cattle have suffered severely ; large "herd of Texas cattle 

 have died, besides many na|,ive.M. 



While there were some losses in Wyoming and jSTorthern Colorado, 

 from the extreme severity of the winter, they were evidently no greater 



