Sg ees sai , red 1 ye sit ‘ j 
Pye 7, oP. - > re a = S 
a ae % A / : 4 
eT ae = » Ma 7 “ hi a 6 - j é 9 
Sea a REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. . 563 
by Lable showing the average yield and. cash value per acre, and price per unit of 
Ke quantity of farm products for the year'1886. 
T 2 he Wei wes en 7 : 
4, . Average | Average 
> : | Average | price | Average | | Average . price | Average 
4 Products. | yield per | per unit | value per) Products. | yield per | perunit | value per 
ak io-aarer ey. ok. 9] Laere,) i acre. | of | acre, 
/ / Seago / | quantity. | 
Paper al Te oT Ce | Bests: 
Indian corn. .bush. .! 22.0; $0,366 $8.06 || Buckwheat .bush. . 12.9 | . $0.545 | £7 04 
““Wheat........ do...| . 12.41 | .687 8.54 || Potatoes ...’..do... 3.5 | 1467) 3430 
le dorciiee’ 1. be 538 6.19 || Tobacco ...... Ibs..| 709.9 OT | 5g, bl 
Ae do...|° 26.4 98 |); 7.87 Hays ..2..... tons. .| db] 846 | . 9:68 
Barley.... ... do... .| 22.4 536 | 2,00 || Cotton ........Ibs 169.5 | - 082 | 12. 
| | fen tI 
FARM ANIMALS. 
NUMBERS. 
It was stated a year ago that the interest in horse-breeding was un- 
abated ; it has been greater still during the past year, resulting in 
enlargement of numbers and enhancement of theaggregate value. No 
class of domestic animals has increased in such proportion within the” 
year. Theadvance averages 5 per cent. and is wall distributed through 
the country, though naturally larger in the States so rapidly develop- 
ing beyond the Mississippi. It is quite marked on the Pacitic coast, a 
natural result of the rapid increase of population there and develop- 
“ment of industrial enterprises generally. Many personsin Ohio and 
elsewhere are giving up sheep infavorofhorses. Thetendencyin the 
central States west of the Alleghanies is strong toward larger and 
heavier horses, suitable for draft purposes, the French breeds pre- 
dominating intheimprovement. In contrast to this there is an influx 
of bronchos from Texas, and even some are bred by a few farmers, to 
the deterioration of the stock so faraspracticed. These Texas ponies 
have overrun the cotton States during the past year and are bred in 
. that region toa limited extent. The increase is very noticeable in the 
_ ranch regions of the great mountain system. Horses are found to be 
hardy there, not smothered by crowding together in astorm like sheep, 
nor drifting aimlessly like cattle, but courageously breasting the bliz- 
zards and intelligently seeking subsistence beneath the snow. 
There was also a less pronounced advance in the number of mules, 
estimated at 35 per cent. 
The extension of cattle-growing has been normal, corresponding very 
nearly with increase of population. Though prices have been low and 
heavy losses have occurred in some of the ranch districts from coldand 
storms, often in connection with overcrowding of feeding grounds, 
there is an abiding faith in the future of the business, grass being the 
cheapest and most abundant source of beef, yielding perhaps nine- 
tenths of all that i »roduced in the country. Corn has a islatevely 
small share in the .-ef-making in any country. The Northwestern 
States are,zgiving more and more prominence to cattle, the wheat 
interest relatively declining in the older settlements. 
Milch cows are receiving rather more attention than in recent years 
in the Eastern and Middle States, and are increasing everywhere with 
the adyance. of population, There is some recuperation from the de- 
pression felt in cheese-making districts, New York especially, when 
prices of their products ruled so low, 
