14 ItfTBODUOTIOlf. 



1860. 1860. 1870. 1880. 



21,732,229 22,471,275 28,477,951 40,000,000 



Value of sheep $95,600,000 



SWINE. 



1840. 1850. 1860. 1870. 1880. 



26,301,293 30,354,213 33,512,867 29,457,500 47,683,951 



Valueof swine $224,114,500 



Total value of these four classes of live stock $2,002,792,580 



This, over two thousand millions, is the invested capital, 

 and the yearly production is more than one thousand 

 millions of dollars. We have from two to three times the 

 number of cattle, in proportion to population, as compared 

 with the principal countries of Europe, and from three to 

 six times as many swine in proportion to population ; 

 nearly three times the proportional number of horses of 

 France, the German states or England. Russia is the only 

 country approximating the United States in the proportion 

 of horses. England, France and Germany equal the 

 United States in the proportional number of sheep. 



It will thus be seen that the live stock industry of this 

 country is already very great, but the small proportion of 

 our land yet improved shows that live stock production is 

 capable of almost indefinite extension ; and that this exten- 

 sion must depend largely upon the intelligence and practical 

 knowledge with which the business is pursued. It is evi- 

 dent that a small saving in the cost of production will 

 amount to very great figures when applied to such enor- 

 mous aggregates. And when we consider the complicated 

 nature of the animal system, and that the growth of the 

 animal depends upon the supply of appropriate food, it 

 becomes apparent that the successful prosecution of this 

 business depends upon a sound theoretical and practical 

 knowledge of the relation of food to animal growth. And 

 yet when a novice, desirous of acquiring this knowledge, 

 seeks aid from books which treat systematically and prac- 



