344 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



hemisphere, from the non-grass-producing latitude on the 

 north to the pampas of Patagonia and the boundaries of the 

 Magellan Straits on the south. 



The cattle industry of the United States alone is of gi- 

 gantic proportions and of immense value. In the }^ear 

 1900, after supplying the home demand there were exported 

 397,286 head of live cattle, valued at $30,623,153, meats 

 valued at $42,170,470 and dairy products of $9,226,520, — 

 a grand total of $82,020,080. It is estimated that more 

 than twenty per cent of the herds are yearly slaughtered in 

 filling this great and increasing demand for beef food. 



Sheep. 



No domestic sheep were found in America by the early 

 discoverers. They were first introduced into Virginia from 

 England in 1609, where, forty years after, they had in- 

 creased to 3,000 ; into Massachusetts and New England in 

 1625 ; Spanish merinos were brought to Boston in 1793, 

 and French merinos were introduced to this country in 

 1846. From these sources, with occasional small additions, 

 sprang the flocks of American sheep husbandry. At this 

 writing it is stated that Vermont merino rams of the best 

 type are worth, for breeders in Australia, $2,000 each ; and 

 one breeder refused an offer for one such of $5,000. 



In the year 1900, in addition to the home demands, there 

 were exported 125,772 head, valued at $733,477. Forty per 

 cent of the flocks are said to be slaughtered yearly for food. 

 As there is to be a paper read before the Congress on sheep 

 husbandry, I defer further remarks at this time. 



Swine. 



The hog, well known to and held in high esteem by the 

 ancients, was the animal devoted to be sacrificed to Ceres, 

 the goddess of harvests. He is not native to this country, 

 but was brought to Hispaniola by Columbus in 1493, to 

 Florida by De Soto in 1538, to Newfoundland in 1553, to 

 Canada in 1608 and to Virginia in 1609. In the latter they 

 are said to have multiplied so rapidly thai the settlers were 

 obliged to fence Jamestown in to keep the hogs out. 



