116 [Assembly 



of the utmost importance that they be fed twice in each 24 hours 

 while on the road. Droves from Illinois to Boston, which have 

 been three and a half months on the road, arrived without the 

 least deterioration. 



In preparing for departure with a drove of cattle, one of the 

 most gentle and least valuable of them is selected as a leader, and 

 this animal is led through the whole route by a rope attached to his 

 horns. The leader at the start, is put at the slowest possible 

 gait, and kept at that during the progress of the journey. It is 

 remarkable with what facility the whole drove will take the gait 

 of the leader and continue it. Each man is furnished with a 

 whip, which he snaps, but seldom, if ever strikes an animal. 



Droves which are started in Illinois from the first to the fif- 

 teenth of May, can depend on grass during the whole journey j 

 but it is not to be depended on if started at a later period. 



The cost of driving cattle from Illinois to Massachusetts on 

 grass, averages $9 i^er head ; and to Philadelphia and New- York 

 $7. If they are kept on feed it will cost from $12 to $20. Dro- 

 vers have not as yet adopted the services of the dog, but the 

 prevailing opinion among them is, that it may be done with very 

 decided advantage. Cattle whicli are worth from $30 to $45 per 

 head in Illinois, bring on an average about $70 in the Atlantic 

 markets. In Boston they are sold at so much per 100 wt. 

 weighed alive, deducting such per centage as may be agreed on. 

 In New- York they are sold on the leg by bargain. In Philadel- 

 phia both ways. In Baltimore they weigh and sink one half. 

 Cattle very seldom get sick on the road. Sometimes they become 

 lame from travel on bad roads, but by careful shoeing and slight 

 indulgence they soon recover. 



There is still in Illinois a remnant of the old French stock, 

 but they bear no comparison to the improved breeds which are 

 rapidly being introduced. The short horns and Devons are 

 becoming very numerous. At pressent cattle from Missouri and 

 other portions of the south and west rendezvous in Illinois, where 

 they are fatted for the eastern markets. 



