INTRODUCTION. 



That the value of American Neat Cattle, as a branch of our 

 agricultural interests, may be fairly understood and appreciated, 

 some statistical facts and estimates are submitted. 



The census reports for the j-ears 1850 and 1860 give the 

 following returns for the United States and Territories : 



1850. 1860. 



Milk Cows, . *. . 6,385,094 8,728,862 



"Working Oxen, . . 1,V00,694 2,240,075 



Other Cattle, . . . 10,293,069 14,671,400 



Thus showing an increase in ten years, of about one-third, or 



33J per cent, in numbers ; and, although, during the past eight 



years, since the year 1859, in which the last census was taken, 



four of these years, 1861 to 1865, have been, during the war in 



the Southern States, a period of extraordinary consumption, 



waste, and depreciation in the numbers of their cattle of all 



descriptions, still, the aggregate of the entire neat stock of the 



country must have considerably increased. 



The number of cattle in thirteen of those States, more or less 

 disturbed and overrun by the armies at various times — leaving 

 out Maryland — in the census reports of 1860, was as follows: 



Milk Cows, 3,305,953 



"Working Oxen, .... 1,732,232 

 Other Cattle 7,782,635 



