THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
3nt>ust’l Societies. 
CONVENTION OP THE NATIONAL CAT¬ 
TLE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
[RUBAI. SPECIAL REPORT.] 
The annual Fat Stock Show at Chicago and 
the Garden City’s unsurpassed facilities for 
entertaining a national convention united to 
confirm the wisdom of the cattle growers of 
the United States in aguin meeting in Chicago, 
Nov. 17 and 18, 1885, for fheir third conven¬ 
tion there. Over 250 members, representative 
meu in all respects, were present. The fol¬ 
lowing officers were elected. President, 
Maj, H. E. Alvord, Mountaiuville, N. Y.; 
Vice-Presidents, the Hon. W. F. Smith, of 
Iowa; Col. Edward Lloyd, of Maryland; 
Granville Stewart, of Moutana; Theodore 
Davis, of Dakota; and the Hon. T. C. Jones, 
of Ohio; Secretary, Prof. Geo. E. Morrow. 
Champaign, 111 ; Assistant Secretaries, W. J, 
C. Dean, of Michigan; Edward Perry, of Ill! 
nuis; and Mr, Clinton Habbibt, of Wisconsin. 
The Hon. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner 
of Agriculture, addressed the convention on 
“THE AMERICAN BEEF SUPPLY.” 
He said that the number of cattle in the Union 
had increased from 17,77S,000 in 1850, to not 
far from 45,000,000, iu 1885. They would ex¬ 
tend in a solid colucuu, 12 animals deep, across 
the Union twice. They are valued at not less 
$1,200,000,000. Insidious cattle plagues exist, 
and State regulations and restrictions have 
caused much trouble duriug the past year to 
stock-ruisers. Our foreign trade is also annoy¬ 
ingly restricted. Sheep and hogs are likewise 
under the ban nt borne and abroad. A settle¬ 
ment of the range question is likewise desired. 
Breeders of cattle, horses, sheep andswiue are 
all interested. In 1880 our railroads carried 
two and one-half times as many tons of live¬ 
stock as of cotton. The product of our animal 
industry iu 1884 was four times as much as 
the gross earnings of all the railroad conpan 
ies iu the United States. Of thecorn crop—the 
greatest crop in this country—72 per cent, is 
dependent upon our animal industry for a 
market. There is no other way to use the 
great bay crop; the oat crop mostly goes the 
same way. A contagious disease among the 
animals will have a double effect: It will 
Increase the price of meat aud other animal 
products without benefiting anyone, because it 
will he more expensive to produce them; it 
will also reduce the value of the enormous corn, 
hay and oat crops because they cannot be fed 
to the same advantage. 
There is an impression throughout the 
country that the cattle buslucss has been de¬ 
veloped far beyond what is necessary, or even 
prudent; but this is not the case. Although 
the increase in cattle has been wonderful, we 
have about the same number, per one thous¬ 
and inhabitants, wo had iu 1850, aud leas than 
we had in 1800. In 1850 there were 700 cattle 
to the 1,000 inhabitants; iu 1800, 814; in 1880, 
only 710, aud it is estimated that we have 
only 772 to the 1,000 at this time. This in¬ 
crease of cattle with tho population has only 
been made possible by the vustuess of our 
Western territory. In the older settled States 
the number bus greatly decreased. In 1850 
New York had 000 cattle to the 1,000 inhabi¬ 
tants ; iu 1880 she had but 460. I u 1850 Con¬ 
necticut had 575 cattle to the 1,000 population; 
iu 1880 she had but 880, Comparing our 
oldeatrsettled Stales with some European 
countries, according to latest statistics, we 
find New York had 4t)u cattle to the 1,000 iu 
habitants; Connecticut, 880; Germany, 367; 
France, 806; Great Britain aud Irelaud, 297. 
THE BEEF CONSUMED 
per annum, per capita, is, in the United 
States, 150 pounds; iu Great Britain, 109; in 
Deumark, 76; in Belgium, 74; in France, 70; 
iu Germany, 06; iu Austria, 53; iu Greece, 
50; iu Holluud, Spain and Portugal, each, 48; 
In Russia, 47, and in Italy ouly 18 pouuds. 
Considering the habits of our people ami the 
consumption of meat ptr capita, New York 
already has a smaller beef supply tliau Ger¬ 
many, and in 12 years will have uo greater 
one thau Englaud. Another reason why the 
falling-off of the meat supply iu this country 
is a fact deserving of the most serious atten¬ 
tion is the iucreusiug meat consumption of 
Europe. In Great Britain it increased from 
61 pouuds per inhabitant in 1840, to 109 in 
1882. There is already a great deficiency in 
the cattle supply of Europe. The deficiency 
of 1,064,000 tous in Great Britain (mostly), 
France, Germany and Belgium, is met by the 
small surplus of 207,000 tons of Russia 
(mostly), Austria, Deumark, Greece, Rouma- 
nia. Holland. Italy, Spain and Portugal. 
There still remaius a deficiency of 797,000 tous 
of meat, which must be supplied chietly by 
America. The cattle business 1 r one which of 
necessity must bo of slow development, and 
can never be rapidly increased, uo matter 
how great the necessity. W e have never re¬ 
covered from the effects of the war, and have 
42 beud of cattle less to the 1,000 population 
than in 1860. Cattle plagues would be far 
worse than the war in decreasing the beef 
supply of this country. 
Any cause tending to decrease the cattle of 
the couutry must have a much more serious 
effect in the future than could have resulted 
at aoy time during our past history. Much 
land has been turned from pasture, aud we 
have a rapidly increasing population. To 
keep up our present beef supply, we must in¬ 
crease our stock of cattle to 70,000,000 within 
20 years, and to 140.000,000 within 45 years. 
DANGER FROM CONTAGIOUS DISEASES, 
There is scarcely a nation in Europe without 
efficient laws and regulations about contagious 
diseases arnoug live stock. Our best customer, 
Great Britain, slaughters all our animals at 
her borders. Can we, as an intelligent people, 
permit the cause of this danger and this loss 
to remain in onr midst, when we can remove 
it completely by the expenditure of but a 
small fraction of the sum that is now annually 
lostf The Bureau of Animal Industry has 
prevented further extension of contagious 
pleuro pneumonia into the uninfected parts 
of our country, although the pre-ent law does 
not admit of prompt and vigorous action for 
the suppression of the disease, even when the 
greatest danger is to be feared from it. The 
dissemination of this pest iu Missouri and 
Kentucky, where a year ago it threatened to 
work an irreparable injury to the cattle 
industry, has by vigorous and intelligent 
effort and favoring circumstances been com¬ 
pletely checked. The contagion has been 
stamped out in the former State, as well as in 
Illinois and Ohio; much progress has been 
made in eradicating it from Kentucky. Ex¬ 
perience shows that the slaughter of infected 
animals is the cheapest and shortest way of 
ending the trouble. 
To sum up the situation in regard to conta¬ 
gious pleuro-pneumoua, the country at large 
is in a much better condition than it was a 
year ago; but the old centers of disease in the 
East remain, most of them unguarded, and no 
oue can tell how soon it may agaiu be carried 
to the great stock-growing States of the Miss¬ 
issippi Valley or the ranges of the Plains. 
When it comes to other diseases, the Bureau 
has neither the power, the force of inspectors, 
nor the money which would justify it in tak- 
iug any action. Hog cholera has been unusu¬ 
ally prevalent over the whole couutry during 
the year, and Us ravages will cost the uation 
over $25,000,000. Why should not we adopt 
as vigorous and intelligent measures for sup 
pressing it here as are in force in Great 
Britain, especially as we have 12 times as 
many animals that are subject to itf 
There are serious and important questions 
which a National Convention like this may 
consider with great profit to their industry. 
Dr. Salmon, of Washington, D. C., Chief of 
the Bureau of Aoimal Industry, said there 
were extraordinary facilities for the distribu¬ 
tion of disease by commerce as at present con¬ 
ducted. He cited decisions of the Supreme 
Court relatiug to the authority of Congress 
iu regulating inter State commerce, the 
slaughtering of cattle and CUeir examination 
or quarantine. 
The Hon. James Wilson, of Iowa, read an 
excellent paper on “The Necessity of Legisla¬ 
tion Toward the Eradication of Disease.” 
The Animal Industry Bill of 1885 had pro¬ 
vided for the appropriation of $100,000 to 
ward stamping out the germs of contagious 
pleuro-pneumouia, yet “red tape” had pre¬ 
vented the benefit. He blamed the Commis¬ 
sioner of Agriculture for not using the money 
and tackliug the legal questions afterward. 
The convention applauded that conclusion, 
forgetting the trouble Dr. Loriug has had 
with the present Administration. 
Hon. J. B. Griuuell, of Iowa, alluded, as 
usual, to making political coffins for those 
who defeated the objects of tbls bill. He said 
the convention should demaud a law em¬ 
powering the Bureau of Animal ludustry to 
find out this disease, destroy tho animals 
a til eted, and send the bills to the General 
Government. 
FOREIGN RESTRICTIONS. 
The whole question of foreigu restrictions 
hangs round the great central point of disease. 
With the removal and stamping out of various 
diseases which afflict cattle aud hogs, these 
restrictions would bo withdrawn. Iu Great 
Britain the fight against disease has beeu loug 
aud continuous. Vast sums have been lost, 
but from statistics we And that year by year 
disease is successfully fought. In Germany 
there are many well authenticated cases of 
human beings dying from trichinosis, noue, 
however, being traceable to American pork. 
In comparing the exports of live cattle 
from the United States with those from Can¬ 
ada, we find thut the latter country increased 
her exportations very materially during the 
your 1884, while from our own country there 
was a very decisive decrease in cattle exports. 
The following figures show this matter very 
clearly. The number of animals imported 
into Great Britain from Canada in 1884, was 
61,092 cattle. 81,382 sheep and 75 swine, 
against 53.178 cattle, 94,286 sheep and two 
swine, m 1883. From the United States, 138,- 
661 cattle, 30,317 sheep, 17 swine were im¬ 
ported in 1884, against 154,631 cattle, 89,053 
sheep, and one pig, in 1883. 
Rigid inspection of cargoes arriving from 
both countries showed that the shipments 
from Canada were entirely free from disease, 
while from the United States there were de¬ 
tected six cases of contagious pleuro-pneu- 
monia, and one cargo of cattle and sheep were 
afflicted with foot and-mouth disease. The 
above statistics show very plainly that our 
Government cannot present a clean bill of 
health. In regard to the very arbitrary 
measures taken by Germany, it is clear that a 
most rigid inspection of all our hog products 
should be carried out to show our good faith. 
Some of the members of the convention 
thought that money was being used to defeat 
legislation on contagious diseases. After con¬ 
siderable discussion, resolutions were carried, 
by a close vote, to invite a committee from 
the Union Stock-Yards to visit the convention, 
and discuss contagious diseases. 
LIVE-STOCK DISEASES. 
The committee on this subject reported by 
Hon. Thomas Sturgis, of Wyoming. Of all 
these diseases contagious pleuro pneumonia 
has settled itself upon the country. Texas 
fever is much feared; but it can be communi¬ 
cated only by direct contact, and is not so 
directly fatal, but is dangerous on account of 
the extensive migration of animals from 
Texas. Iu preventing the introduction of 
foreign diseases, National and State legisla¬ 
tion is necessary'. In case of local outbreaks, 
the State Commissions could deal with the 
disease; but great outbreaks should be dealt 
with by Federat authority. A large appro¬ 
priation should be made. The Bureau of 
Animal Industry should be invested with 
police powers and suitable sanitary laws 
should be enacted and enforced. The report 
was accepted. 
The committee appointed to prepare resolu¬ 
tions in harmony with the papers of Commis¬ 
sioner Colman and Dr. Salmon, reported that 
because contagious diseases existed and 
threatened the cattle business and the food 
supply of this country, a committee of five 
should be appointed to solicit and receive 
money to pay expense of presenting the sub¬ 
ject for legislative action; a committee to 
work up the people to direct legislative pro¬ 
tection ; a committee to keep the public posted 
about cattle diseases; a committee to persis¬ 
tently present the matter to Congress; for 
provision for National oversight and control 
of cattle diseases, under the direction of the 
Commissioner of Agriculture; for an appro¬ 
priation of not less than $1 500,000 for that 
purpose; for the employment of a sufficient 
number of competent experts; for the pay¬ 
ment by the General Government of a reason¬ 
able valuation (upon the basis of health) for 
auimals slaughtered on account of disease; 
and, finally, that the presiding Officer and 
Secretary memorialize Congress iu aid of the 
above measures. After a great deal of talk, 
these resolutions were uuauimously adopted. 
In the second afternoon, President Alvord 
read a good paper on 
“DAIRYING.” 
This couutry is not husbanding its produc¬ 
tion. Keeping and raising live stock are the 
salvation of impoverished soils. Onr neat 
cattle represent half of the capital invested iu 
live stock on our farms, aud of these one-third 
are milch cows. The annual product of the 
dairy is equal to the value of the auimals 
supplying it, and is tbree fifths of the entire 
animal product of the country. The Interest 
owes its great advance to the factory system, 
which gives it commercial importance. Priv¬ 
ate dairying is not gaining oti the factory 
system. The export trade has beeu iujured 
by bogus butter and skim milk cheese, sold as 
genuine products, aud for this the dairyman is 
responsible. Instead of hasty appeals for 
legislative aid, let dairymeu aud tradesmen 
make earnest Individual efforts. The trouble 
is that a very small average of consumers 
know what real butter is. There is great 
waste iu the present plau of milk distribution, 
aud its ultimate cost to the consumer is three 
cents per quart; while it has been practically 
demonstrated that by organized distribution 
its cost need only be one cent per quart. (?) 
The convention unanimously’ passed resolu¬ 
tions favoring legislation compelling manu¬ 
facturers of butter substitutes and butter- 
makers who use other ingredieuts thau pure 
milk-cream, to so stamp or brand their pro¬ 
duct, as to make it easily distinguished 
from the real article. 
THE BEEF CANNING INDUSTRY. 
Secretary Morrow read a paper, by Mr. A 
A. Libby, on this subject. The essay was ex¬ 
tended and interesting. It gave a history of 
“meat-preserving ” inventions and processes. 
Hundreds of patents have been issued for the 
preservation of meat in cans. Meat canning 
has revolutionized the meat traffic. Low pri¬ 
ces to consumers of fresh beef do not neces 
aarily imply low prices for the living animals. 
By Baving waste the canner sells bis beef for 
less thau the local butcher. 
Representatives of the Union Stock Yards 
and Board of Trade interests, who had been 
invited to meet with the convention, did not 
materialize. 
Resolutions were passed requesting associ¬ 
ations represented in the convention to use 
every effort to cultivate a public sentiment in 
favor of immediate and effective legislation 
iu the matter of contagious diseases: urging 
railroad companies to make some improve¬ 
ments in their stock care; and that the 
association be requested to memorialize the 
Governors of States having no such legislation 
to recommend to their respective Legislatures 
that they pass proper laws authorizing the 
appointment of sanitary boards, composed of 
practical agriculturists and men engaged in the 
control of the administration of all State laws 
for the extermination of contagious auimals. 
and who shall co-operate with the officers of 
the National Government in the execution of 
existing or future laws on this subject. 
I)r. Hopkins then submitted a report from 
the convention of veterinarians, embodying 
their views on the subject. 
Hon. J. B. Grinnell, of Iowa, spoke elo¬ 
quently and forcibly about “National Cattle 
Ranges.” 
A delegate from Michigan tried in vain to 
have his question answered why it was that 
beef sold in Montana for 15 cents a pound, 
while be could only get six cents within 150 
miles of Chicago. 
The convention then adjourned sine die. 
LA MOILLE. 
•flfoscellaiteous. 
CATALOGUES. ETC., RECEIVED. 
Twenty-eighth Quarterly Report of 
THE PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 
for which we are indebted to Mr. Thomas J. 
Edge, Secretary, Harrisburg. Ta. 
Weaver Organ and Piano CO., York, Pa. 
—A fully illustrated catalogue, showing the 
style, sizes and prices of the instruments made 
by this reliable bouse. It is worth sending for 
it if you love music. Free. 
T. V. Munson, Deuison, Texas —Illustrated 
catalogue of fruits of all kinds. The Niagara 
Grape a specialty. This will be sent free to all 
Rukal subscribers who apply to Mr. Muusod. 
Wm. B Reep, Chambersburg, Franklin Co., 
Pa — An illustrated catalogue of roses, grape¬ 
vines, small fruits, bardy shrubs. Free to onr 
subscribers. Mention the R. N -Y. in all such 
applications. 
Third Annual Report of the New York 
Agricultural Experiment Station, 450 pages. 
—This is the most valuable work of the kiud we 
have ever seen,and every farmer iu the country 
should have a copy and study it. Address the 
Director. E. Lewis Stnrtevant. Geueva. N. Y. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. Flowering 
and Fine leaved Palms,Ferusaud Lycopodiums 
with full details of the propagation and oulti 
vatiou of 500 families of plauts. embracing all 
the best kinds iu cultivation suitable for grow - 
ing in the greenhouse, intermediate house anti 
stove. By Thomas Baines. It fs published 
by John Murray 506 Albemarle St., Loudon, 
W. England. This is a valuable work writteu 
by an experienced gardener. 
Wm. Parry, Parry F. O., N. J.—A cir¬ 
cular setting forth the good qualities of the 
Parry 8trawberry with many testimonials 
from good meu. The now strawberry “Lida” 
will be offered for sale uext Spring. It is a 
seedling from Durand’s King Cluster. It is 
pistillate and represented as beiug of large 
size, very productive; of a bright red color, 
heart-shaped (the best word, by the way, to 
define the ovate strawberry) regular, medium 
as to season, firm, and of excellent quality. 
It is further said to be larger thau the Cresceut. 
which it resembles in shape, and fully as pro¬ 
ductive. The Wilson Jr. Blackberry is next 
treated to three pages of compliments and a 
page potrait. Mr. Parry will furnish the 
circular to Rural readers. 
for 'Women. 
CONDUCTED BY JUSL RAY CLARK.. 
POLITICIANS AND POLITICS. 
Now that the election is over, and every 
thing is quiet,'.I come with,my “little say,” in 
