Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-02
NUMBERS AND PRICES OF FARM
STOCK.

Interesting aIIlcle OH Inc iSSulbS VI ohhua ,
concerning the price Of farm
animals and their numbers. The Philadel
phia 44ge has been looking into the report,
and has made a synopsis which win prove
very interesting to farmers and stock-raisers
throughout the country. During the war,
the supply of farm animals, both horses and
cattle, decreased in a most material degree.
The former were destroyed in battle, or
worn out on marches and by the casualties
incident TO the camp, while the latter were
consumed for food by the millions of men
in the fields on both sides. These causes
made a serious gap in the number of
farm animals, and augmented their price in
all parts Of the country But since the war
the stock of farm animals has been slowly
but steadily Increasing, with the exception
of sheep, in which a decrease Of about one
per cent is apparent on the last report.
The largest increase reported is in swine,
amounting to six per cent. over That Of last
year. Horses and mules are credited with |
an Increase Of three per cent, milch cows |
two per cent, and oxen and other cattle |
one per cent. The only States in which a
decrease of horses is reported are Maine; five |
per cent; New Hampshire, four per cent; |
Rhode Island, two per cent; Connecticut,
one per cent. and California, one per
cent. On the other hand, an increase
Of one per cent. appears in New York,
New Jersey. Pennsy !vania, Maryland, Mis-
sissippi, two per cent in Massachusetts,,
South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, West
Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois; three per
cent in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama,
Kentucky, Michigan; four per cent in FlOri-
ia, Texas, Tennessee; six per cent in Wis
consin and Missouri; seven per cent in Ark
ansas and Oregon; eight per cent in Iowa;
sixteen per cent in Kansas, and twenty per
cent in Nebraska. In mules loss of one
per cent is indicated in New York, Penn
svlvania and Indiana; Of two per cent in
Kentucky; of three per cent in Michigan,
and four per cent in California. The re-
naming States show an increase in nearly
the same ratio locally as in the case
of horses. In Iowa and Kan
sas the increase of horses is
much greater than that of mules. In re-
turns of mich cows, no States show de-
crease except Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The
apparent increase throughout the country is
about two per cent, the greatest apprecla-
ton being in the new States receiving large
accessions to their agricultural population:
twenty per cent. in Nebraska, eighteen i'll
Kansas, ten in Iowa and Minnesota, six in
Missouri and Arkansas, five in Wisconsin,
Greater prominence is beginning to be Civ
en- TO the dairy interests in the South, the
mountainous districts of which are admir-
ably adapted, by reason Of their mildness
and equability Of temperature, nutritious
and abundant grasses and cool
springs, to the making of butter and
cheese. The failure of the hay crop in the
Eastern States has caused further reduc-
ton In the numbers Of ''oxen and other
cattle" and decrease is also reported in
other States as follows: New York, one pei
cent: Pennsylvania, five; Georgia, two;
Florida, four; Texas, three; California,
five; most of the Western States indicate
more or less increase-Michigan, two per
cent; Illinois, one; Wisconsin, eight; Min
nesota, ten; Iowa, seven; Missouri, live;
Kansas, fifteen; Nebraska, twenty; Oregon,
seven. The aggregate increase is little more
than one per cent. As TO prices OF farm
stock they are lower al the present time
than in February, 1871, with the
, single exception of sheep. But the dc
cline is now general. A demand iol
f horned stock in the South has raised price;
a trihe in that locality, but on the average
prices we do not rate with these a-twelve
month AGO. The decline in the prices o
horses is quite general IN Texas small
. advance Is noticed. Oxen and other catIC
have declined quite heavily in the Easter
States. partly IS a result Of the general de
gragia..oa, and obviously from the scarcity
O. Of hav and other feed, causing feeling o
4 disbursement, uufayoTable to high prices
- In tie Middle States, cattle of the ag'
+ / Of three years and upward average abou
p fifty dollars; last year, sixty-four dol
lars. TIE ratio Of decline has beer
, small in the South, where the rate
g. are low, the breed inferior, and where tn
d need gilmore and better stock is beginnin!
5 20 he felt. Lower prices prevail in tn
Ohio valley. but il Wisconsin and Mime
sofa. where cattle are gradually assuming
their place in the farm economy, as whea
, culture becomes Improbable, rates al
> very we'll sustained. In the Missouri valley
. the depreciation is even heavier than in tn
Ohio valley. Sheep are the only animal
of the farm that command higher rates
The advance in price, with the enhancing
in the value of wool, is greatest in the prin
pal woOi-grOwing States. These ar
the present facts in relation to the numbe
+, and price of farm stock. They ar
i by no means discouraging to farmers en-
q stock-raisers. The number Of animals is Oh
Q the increase and the decline in prices vii
IS cease with firmer condition in the genera
# business ofthe country. In the meantime
the price of meats in the markets of larg
S cities keeps up to the topmost mark. N
d matter how the price of cattle may decline
n prepared Joints or steaks are held at the oh
. figures. This condition of things only ben
: fits a small "Ring" of middlsmen. Th
y stock-raiser is not benefited, nor are con
! sumers. But supply and demand will il
a the end regulate the matter, and divide tn
j. proceeds more equally among producers an
d consumers.
). A WASHINGTON ietter-writer states Tbs
, ,r--.-,. :-.,,.,,,a o,,tsila Of HE SqIaTv q