June 1895.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



59 



Beef Prices in America. 



In an article in Bradstreefs of April 20th, the recent recovery 

 in prices of American beef is attributed to the scarcity of cattle 

 and to the poor quality of the beasts brought to market. 

 Attention is particularly directed to the significant decline in 

 the numbers of live animals in the United States, and the fol- 

 lowing summary is presented of the numbers and values of 

 farm animals in that country, according to the estimates of 

 the Agricultural Department at Washington, on January 1st 

 1895 and 1894. 



Niimher of Farm Animals in 1894 and 1895. 



Live Stock. 



1894. 



1895. 



Increase 

 or 



Decrease. 



(1 



Per-centage 

 of Increase 

 or Decrease. ! 













Horses 

 Mules - 

 Milch cows 



Oxen and other cattle - 

 Sheep - 

 Swine - • - 



Totals 



16,081,139 

 2,352,231 

 16,487,400 

 86,608,168 

 45,048,017 

 45,206,498 



15,893,318 

 2,333,108 

 16,504,629 

 34,364,216 

 42,294,064 

 44 165,716 



- 187,821 



- 19,123 

 + 17,229 

 -2,248,952 

 -2,753,953 

 -1,040,782 



- 1-17 f 



- -81 j 

 + • 10 j 



- 6-13 



- 6-11 



- 2-30 



161,783,453 155,555,051 



-6,221,402 



- 3-85 j 



Aggregate Value of Farm Animals in 1894 and 1895. 



Live Stock. 1894. 



i 

 j 



■ 



1895. 



Increase 

 or 



Decrease. 



Per-centage 

 of Increase 

 or Decrease. 



Horses 

 Mules - 

 Milch cows 



Oxen and other cattle - 

 Sheep - - - 

 Swine - 



Totals 



153,844,960 

 29,246,563 

 71,799,732 



107,357,949 

 17,837,222 

 54,076,925 



115,346,116 

 22,185,567 

 72,520,345 

 96,599,826 

 13,337,153 

 43,900,253 



£ 



-38,493,844 



- 7,060,996 

 + 720,613 

 -10,758,123 



- 4,500,069 

 -10,176,672 



-25-0 

 -24-1 

 + 1-0 

 -10-0 

 -25-2 

 -18-8 



434,163,351 



363,889,260 



-70,274,091 



-16-2 



It is shown that among the several decreases shown in the 

 numbers compared with a year ago, the heaviest proportion of 

 falling-otf was in the class of " oxen and other cattle," from 

 which the larger part of the beef supply of the country is 

 obtained. The fall in the number of beef cattle is 613 per 

 cent., while in sheep it is 611 per cent., and in hogs 2 30 per 

 cent. As regards values, a small gain of 1 per cent, is observed 

 in milch cows, but there was a decrease in beef cattle of 10 per 

 cent., of 18 per cent, in hogs, and of 24 to 25 per cent, in horses, 



