I recommended sinking wells on the different plantations, to insure a supply of pure drinking water for the stock during the droughts which are so prevalent in that region during the summer months; the removal of healthy animals to noninfected fields or districts; the burial of dead animals and giving to all exposed ones chlorate of potasium and muriate of iron internally; also washing the bodies with a solution of bichloride of mercury, one part to one thousand parts of water. From the reports that were in circulation about Yazoo City it appears that charbon has been raging in the Yazoo bottoms ever since 1868, when it spread over a large extent of country; was very fatal, affecting all domestic animals. Ever since 1868 the disease has raged with more or less severity. The disease follows a drought and develops in a low, swampy section, where the animals are compelled to drink stagnant water, and is apparently spread by contagion. In 1881, after a long drought, charbon developed in a mild form on a plantation located on Silver Creek and spread from 12 to 15 miles in both directions, only a small number of animals being affected and the death rate small. Silver Creek is about 40 miles long; the plantations on both sides front on the creek; the animals owned on the various plantations are allowed to run at large up and down its banks. When the owners discovered that charbon had broken out among their mules they started with them for the hills east of Yazoo City. About 400 head of them were driven from Silver Creek over both roads to the hills, thereby spreading the contagion along both roads. It was the general report en route, both going to and returning from Silver Creek, that no cases had been noticed on any of those plantations until after their mules had come in contact with those from the creek. Doses used in outbreak of charbon at Yazoo City: Chlorate of potash, 2 drams; muriate of iron, 1 teaspoonful, twice a day; carbolic acid solution, externally, 1 part to 8 parts of water.

James A. Walrath, inspector of the Department, reports as follows, under date of June 19, 1890:

Pursuant to your order of June 17, to investigate cattle disease on the farm of D. M. Druce, Mexico, N. Y., I started on the evening of the above date and arrived in Mexico the following afternoon. Being met at the depot by Mr. Druce, we proceeded to his farm, some 3 miles south of the village.

The history of the outbreak as given by Mr. Druce is about as follows: Seventeen cows and a calf have been kept on the farm, running during the day in a low piece of meadow land, covered by a rank growth of grass. It has been the custom to turn them out of this pasture at night into a field on the hillside. Saturday afternoon one of the cows was found dead. The next day they were again turned into the meadow and two more were found dead before night. Thinking that they perhaps were eating some poisonous weed, the owner kept them in the upland pasture on Monday, where another died and several more were observed to be sick. Tuesday scarcely any in the herd were well, though no deaths took place. Upon my arrival Wednesday all were much better, none of them refusing food. All that had manifested any symptoms of disease were tested by the thermometer and in only one instance was there any fever, the temperature of one cow standing at 103°. The cow that had died on the hill pasture was exhumed and a post-mortem examination made, but owing to the heat and dampness no very positive lesions could be made out. An exudation of blood into the pericardiac sac and a thickening of the tongue were the most prominent.

A diagnosis of anthrax was made, and the owner advised to discontinue the use of the meadow as a pasture.

PNEUMONIA AMONG HORSES.

Dr. A. W. Clement, an inspector of the Bureau, was directed, in the latter part of November, 1890, to visit and inspect a number of horses in the town of Front Royal, Va., which were suffering with a disease which it was feared might be contagious. The following report, addressed to the Secretary of Agriculture, gives the results of Dr. Clement's investigation:

Your letter of the 24th instant, asking for detailed report of investigation of disease among horses in Virginia, reached me on the 25th, and would have received immediate attention but for the fact that the shipments of cattle to England have occupied all of my time for the past three days.

In accordance with telegraphic instructions I left Baltimore early on the morning of November 19, and arrived at Front Royal about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. I was met at the station by a Mr. Davis, at whose solicitation, I understood, the mayor of the place had communicated with the Secretary. Mr. Davis informed me that a very serious disease had broken out among the horses there, the nature of which they did not understand. Some three or four animals had died and eight or ten that he knew of were sick. I went with him to see his animal, a valuable driving mare, and found the following conditions: The animal was taken sick the day before; up to that time she had done her work as usual. The symptoms presented were as follows: Pulse 80, and scarcely perceptible; respiration 40, and very short; abdominal muscles tense; temperature 105° F; extremities cold, ears cold; mucous membranes of the nose hyperamic; considerable thick mucous discharge from both nostrils; submaxillary lymphatic glands not enlarged; conjunctiva hyperamic; some watery discharge from the eyes; on percussion a dull note over the entire surface of the left lung; on auscultation an absence of respiratory murmur over the same area; right lung gives clear respiratory murmur. This was the only animal sick in that stable at the time, and I did not learn that any others had been sick. At another stable I found a pair of driving horses presenting symptoms similar to the above, though not so severe. Several others had been sick in this stable but had recovered.

I learned that an animal which died and was cut open had its "chest full of water."

The stable in which these horses were confined had the boarding on the sides put together in a very loose manner, as much as an inch of space separating them, so that the cold air could blow directly upon the animal. I advised the owners to close the cracks and to procure veterinary attendance.

I prescribed stimulants and nourishing diet in place of the aconite with which they had been treating them.

I did not pursue the investigation further, as to my mind there was no question that the animals were suffering from pneumonia, so commonly met with in practice.

CONDITION OF THE LIVE-STOCK INDUSTRY OF NEBRASKA.

Under date of September 8, 1890, Mr. H. J. Harwi, an inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry, submitted the following report on the live-stock industry of that portion of Nebraska adjoining northwestern Kansas:

The live-stock industry of that portion of Nebraska adjoining northwestern Kansas, comprising 150 miles east and west and about 90 miles north and south, is in the same condition relative to breeds, grades, and prices as in northwestern Kansas. This section has enjoyed an abundant corn crop each year for the last ten years. It is well watered and heavily timbered along the streams. The native grasses are the buffalo and blue-stem, the former rapidly yielding to the latter. Corn is the chief product, and is extensively raised. Cornfields of 100 acres and more are very

common.

The natural advantages for sheltering stock consist of bluffs, draws, and heavy timber, and are invaluable. Very slight expense will provide comfortable shelter for any number of animals. The failure to provide shelter is the exception and not the rule, hence ordinarily the mortality is very small.

The corn crop this year is comparatively a failure, and sells at 60 cents per bushel, as against 10 cents per bushel in October, 1889. The feeding of cattle, hogs, and sheep is the leading resource, and has been very profitable. About 331 per cent of the cattle annually fed in this section are grown here. The remainder are furnished principally from the ranges of western Kansas and Colorado. About all the hogs fed are grown here; few come from the adjoining portion of Kansas. Colorado and Utah supply the mutton sheep. Scarcely 25 per cent of these are grown here.

The capitalists and banks of the cities of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebr., advance money at 10 per cent interest per annum to the feeders to buy stock for feeding, thereby crowding the industry to such an extent that the corn is nearly all consumed each year. Corn of the 1889 crop is very scarce.

The horse, cattle, and sheep rangers in some localities of northwestern Kansas annually (about November) drive to this section to take advantage of the shelter and cheap feed, and remain until about April 1. Cornstalks generally sell at from

10 to 20 cents per acre, and as a rule the corn is not gathered very closely, so that on an average not less than 3 bushels of nubbins remain. This year, however, cornstalks sell at from $1 to $4 per acre. An average straw stack sells at from $8 to $15. All the coarse forage this year is being saved.

Well water for cattle is preferable. Especially is this true in blizzards. The icecold water aids to chill them, so that some will almost famish for water before they will drink from a stream. The well water is not so cold, is relished better, drank more freely and regularly, and possibly reduces the risk in running cattle in cornstalks. To water regularly is very essential in feeding cornstalks. Quite a number of cattle died last season while running in stalks, so that a large acreage remained unpastured. Range steers wintered here on stalks and properly sheltered command from $2 to $5 per head more than those wintered scantily on the range. This clearly portrays the absolute necessity and value of comfortable shelter and good feed properly fed, for without it one blizzard frequently stunts a whole herd to such an extent that they never mature nor develop as nature intended, which certainly affects their value to a marked degree.

Stock growers take but little care of their cattle, and do not seem to realize the injurious effects of improper care and attention; besides, they breed prematurely, which naturally impairs the quality and prevents the offspring from properly maturing and developing. The breeding from immature stock is one of the most serious drawbacks to the industry. Generally very little attention is paid to this subject by the growers, yet they can not reconcile themselves to the fact that it is due to breeding too young, and from stock that has not matured. Fully 50 per cent of the stock growers engage in the business without experience. They breed for numbers-quality is a secondary consideration. During the winter they run the cattle on grass. They have an aversion to feeding, until compelled so to do to prevent starvation. They seem to be entirely unable to comprehend the necessity and the profitableness of keeping cattle thriving and growing the entire year. They prefer to sell their feed. They stunt their cattle by starvation and neglect. They console themselves with the fact that cattle will fatten readily on the buffalo grass during the spring and summer, and be in good condition for market in the fall. result is that the cattle thrown upon the market by these amateur growers are inferior, not matured or developed-in fact, " scrubs" compared with cattle having had the proper feed and care. They demoralize the market, and are to a very great extent responsible for the present depression. The low prices will probably have the wholesome tendency to limit the number to the amount of feed and requisite attention. The number of corn-fed cattle from this section this year will be small.

SHEEP.

The

There are very few sheep in this section. But few are grown here. The number for wool growing has increased about 334 per cent, while the mutton sheep has decreased about 10 per cent. Nearly all have been marketed that were in any condition whatever for market. The present drought and failure of the corn crop affects sheep husbandry less than any other branch of the live-stock industry. Sheep consume a greater variety of plants than any other domestic animal. Thus they are provided with food from the range when it is barren of sustenance for all other stock. They consume all the refuse from feeding horses and cattle, hence the actual expense of keeping sheep through a dry season and resulting crop failure is not as great proportionately as that of any other stock.

No disease has prevailed among sheep. About the only loss has been occasioned by wolves and dogs.

HOGS.

About 40 per cent of the hogs have been marketed for slaughter, of which number 20 per cent were not in condition for market. About 20 per cent have been shipped to eastern Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri, as stockers. About 75 per cent of the August and September pigs have been and will be destroyed on account of the scarcity of corn. Stock hogs are cheap and can be bought at any price. The growing and feeding of hogs hitherto has been very profitable. Corn as a rule was cheap, varying from 10 to 20 cents per bushel.

No disease has prevailed to any alarming extent. been reported. January 1, 1891, will scarcely find did January 1, 1890.

Scattering cases of cholera have one-third as many hogs here as

HORSES.

There are very few horse growers who make it a business in this section. The farmers view with favor the French and English draft horses. It is very doubtful whether the number of horses at present is any greater than a year ago. This is due to the scarcity of feed. As a rule the farmers keep the best and highest grades and sell the others. No disease has been reported.

CATTLE.

About 50 per cent of the number of cattle bought last spring for feeding this fall will be roughed through the winter. The remainder have been or will be thrown on the market as stockers, with few for slaughter. Compared with 1889 about 20 per cent will be fed. The market here and in northwestern Kansas declined 15 per cent during the month of August. No disease has prevailed. The Shorthorn cattle are largely preferred among the feeders.

DETERIORATION OF AMERICAN CHEESE.

It would seem from a recent report of the cheese committee of the Home and Foreign Produce Exchange (limited) of London, that American cheeses were waning in popularity "because of a distinct deterioration from the earlier standards." The report of this committee, which is issued from Hibernia Chambers, London Bridge, S. E., March, 1891, is as follows:

At the opening of a new cheese season we think it may be useful to record some experiences of the American cheese trade in 1890-'91.

For some years past the United States product has been waning in popularity on the London market, relatively because of the advance in the Canadian make, both in quality and quantity, positively because of a distinct deterioration from the earlier standards.

To find a factory which, week by week, fulfills the requirements for a choice article is now the exception.

It is a matter of universal complaint here, that the American supply has not come up to these essential conditions, with the result that losses and disappointments have been numerous.

The goods have on arrival only too often proved to be either porous in the make and with an excess of moisture or, on the other hand, tight and leathery, in both cases developing bad keeping qualities.

The moist loose cheese becomes ill-flavored rapidly, while the tight poor cheese goes wrong in flavor before the curd has had time to break down and become mellow. There have also been complaints of color flying badly.

Earlier in the season the cheese was shipped too green, and consequently, during the summer months at least, suffered seriously in transit, the natural development being arrested and the cheese spoilt.

More careful attention to strong well-fitting boxes and good cooperage is also desirable.

It is, however, only fair to say that the late made cheese from all sections was on the whole very good for October make.

We do not presume to instruct practical makers as to the causes and remedies; it is our duty simply to indicate those points where improvement is needed, and to trust to the abundant energy and skill of the dairy farmers of America that they will make a strenuous effort to recover their lost prestige.

We would point out that their interest is the same as ours. A good product not only commands the full market value, but makes the business crisp and pleasant to all concerned.

We plead the importance of this trade, and the large extent of the interests concerned on both sides of the Atlantic, as an excuse for troubling you with these remarks.

By order of the committee.

G. J. ACOCKS,
Secretary,

HORSE BREEDING IN NEW JERSEY.

Hon. J. M. RUSK,

Secretary of Agriculture:

SIR: Comparatively little attention had been paid in this State to the breeding of standard or registered horses until the year 1866, in which year was formed the New Jersey Association of Trotting Horse Breeders. For a number of years previous to this time Col. E. W. Conover, of Middletown, N. J., and Mr. H. N. Smith, of Trenton, N. J, had bred trotting horses, and although they were indefatigable in their efforts, they had not attracted the attention. their labors deserved. In March, 1886, the following circular was issued:

DEAR SIR: You are cordially invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Trenton House, Trenton, N. J., on Saturday, March 20, 1886, at 10 o'clock a. m., the object of this meeting being the formation of a State Breeders' Association for the purpose of developing and improving the breed of the trotting horse. It is desirable to secure a large attendance at this meeting, as officers for the ensuing year will be elected. In case you are unable to attend, please signify your desire to become a member by addressing A. V. Sargeant, Raritan, N. J.

This circular was signed by the Fashion Stud Farm, Trenton, N. J.; John S. Clark, New Brunswick; Mount Pleasant Farm, Finderne: Col. E. W. Conover, Middletown; Elias A. Wilkinson, Newark; Matthias Plum, Madison; E. G. Doolittle, Montclair; R. F. Shaen, South Orange; William Force. Flemington; R. Cadugan, Bayonne; R. B. Konover, Trenton; William F. Kidder, East Orange; Joseph Ballantine, Somerville; and A. V. Sargeant, Raritan. Mr. Sargeant was principally instrumental in calling this meeting, and the result was the formation of the New Jersey Association of Trotting-Horse Breeders. The organization of this association awakened a lively interest in its object, and there have since been yearly meetings, attended by persons interested in trotting stock from all over the country. At these meetings there are contests of the speed of the products of the various stud farms in the State. Additional interest was lent to these contests by the fact that there were a number of competitors, the contests differing from those held in the West, where one remarkable colt carries off all the honors. The breeders in New Jersey seem to have attained the best results. by in-breeding with thoroughbred mares.

The following gentlemen are at present engaged in breeding standard horses in this State:

Mr. H. N. Smith is the owner of the Fashion Stud Farm, in Trenton, Mercer County. He breeds about fifty head a year. One of the products of his farm as a yearling made a record of 2:41 at a meeting of the Breeders' Association, the best record for yearlings in this part of the country. The colt was subsequently sold to Mr. John S. Clark, of New Brunswick, N. J., who owns a breeding farm in Kentucky. As a 2-year-old this colt got a record of 2:25. The name of the colt is Presto; he is by General Washington, he by General Knox, dam Lady Thorne.

Col. E. W. Conover died about two years ago, and his son, Mr. William H. Conover, succeeded him in the management of the stud farm in Middletown, N. J. He breeds about 6 head a year, and H. Mis. 270-25

385