60 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



[June 1895. 



mules, and sheep. The fall in value exceeded in all cases the 

 decrease in the number, and while the aggregate decrease in 

 numbers of all animals was less than 4 per cent., there was a 

 fall in value of more than 16 per cent. A table is given show- 

 ing the decline in value per head of different kinds of live stock 

 in the twelve months, as follows : — -'^ 



Live Stock 



Average 

 Value. 

 1894. 



Average 

 Value. 

 1895. 



Increase 

 or 



Decrease. 



Horses - 

 Mules 



Milch cows - 



£ s. d. 

 9 19 3| 

 12 19 0| 

 4 10 8| 



£ s. d. 

 7 11 2| 

 9 18 \\ 

 4 11 6i 



£ s. d. 



- 2 8 1 



- 3 0 11 

 + 0 0 10 



Oxen and other cattle 



Sheep . . - 



Swine - 



3 1 1 



0 8 3 



1 4 11 



2 18 1'^ 



0 6 7 



1 0 8i 



- 0 2 6 



- 0 1 8 



- 0 4 2i 



It seems the number of beef cattle in the United States on 

 January 1 of this year was smaller than at any similar period 

 for seven years past, while their value was estimated to be the 

 smallest for 13 years past. The number of sheep is stated to 

 have been the smallest for 15 vears, and their value the lowest 

 on record. Hogs were fewer on January 1, 1895, than at any 

 similar period since 1883, and, with the exception of 1891, their 

 value was the lowest recorded for 10 years past. It is pointed 

 out that the low prices had stimulated exports, the numbers of 

 cattle exported from the States being 359,278 in the fiscal year 

 ending 30th June 1894, against 287,094 in 1893; and those of 

 sheep 132,370 against 37,260 : while for the eight months 

 ending February 1895, the exports of cattle were 242,847 

 against 187,837 in the eight months ending February 1894, — 

 six times as many sheep being also exported in the later period. 

 It is claimed, therefore, that such figures furnish the requisite 

 basis for an; advance in values such as has occurred, and it is 

 contended that the circumstances generally do not favour the 

 assumption that the late improvement in values is due to an 

 artificial combination by a " beef trust " to push up prices. 



