Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-15
THE PAM STOCK or TIE couu-
TRY.
4 Review OF Numbers, Values and Con-
dtt1ou in 1888.

farmers Of our country than the condition
and values Of the farm stock Farms and
growing crops alone take precedence. In
deed, We sometimes question if our domestic
animals, from the important relations they
sustain to the improvement Of the farm, the
subsistence Of the people, and the ready
means they offer for successful business en-
serprises, being so easily handled and coming
to maturity so rapidly, are not the most
important factor Of the farm economy. The
farm itself as a plant. and the groxing crops,
are Of course prerequisites for successful
stock husbandry but when the importance
Of the live stock interests are con-
sidered, their health and good condition
become objects Of chief concern to all
classes, the consuming as well as producing
Hence ths Department of Agriculture has
made il special point in their gathering of in-
formation, to institute regular annual inquiries
I regarding the numbers, values and healthful-
ness Of the farm animals. The publication of
the results Of this inquiry for the past year has
I Just been made and embraces many facts
and conclusions Of great interest
I The report shows that the numbers Of
cattle Of all kinds on the first Of January, Of
the present year exceed the number one year
ago by more than a million head. The in
crease is rapid in all the States where farm
extension is in progress, as in the newer
Western States and in Texas, Arkansas, and
! Tennessee. There is much dissatisfaction with
the low prices Of cattle, which has tended TO
reduction in some places, and in others hold
ing for better prices has tended to enlarge
nent of numbers. There is much local
complaint of combination of dealers and
butchers to control prices. and of the dis
elimination Of railroad companies in freight
rates. There 10 some improvement in the
I quality of cattle, as reported in many south
ern localities, which is especially gratifying
as indicating the popularity of cattle growing
as leading farm business.
/ With the advance of population the number
of mich cows is steadily increasing; there
/ having been an increase the pact year of
( 4i2 PIP head Milk and its products are
found to be the cheapest as we'll a, the most
assimilable and nutritious of foods, and there
I is no probability of decline in the demand
I The largest increase is IN the Southwest AID
Northwest, where settlement is active and
population increasing.
I 1t is not disappointment tina the statistics
obtained show still further reduction of the
numbers of sheep. With the low price OF
wool no other result could have been expect
ed. 1t is A pleasure to observe. however,
tho, ,ho,. ava f,o .,r .ao,ions 80 tho
NAV @A''e nv ''''' many ~
country esldences OF re-assurahces IN the iu-
ture of sheep husbandry which has already
rssulted in a narcentible increase of Numbers
u 'i'' 'i"'' Vi sim '''ON
Ihere Is marked increase III the NUMBERS
of swine. ample for the meat supply of the
natural i,creasa of ,o,ulation and tn aid az a
-,
pio"'"'ie "e""' Vi 0'A'u''p''o'' u VIC '"'S
corn crop OF the year.
The tendency to increased attention to
borsa hreediny which b.. been an noticeable
,,u
:" ie'en' ye~i' 10 s'ii' soi"s INV" a." anu e''
total increase IN numbers 10 nearly ooo'ooo-
the heaviest ratios of increase being in Texas,
Kar... Noh-.sk. and tho rarri,o-e. Tho
low price OF ca''ie the past rev years mas
stimulated renewed attention to horses. The
remarks of Hon. j. r. Dodge. s.atistician of
49, ..;o,,,.,,I Da,,,.,n, r,aar .hoao Al
'"N
rectioh the report uhder review haA oeeh
made, upon this snbJect,wlll be OF interest to
all readers -
improvement in the quality and charac-
ter OF horses mas oeen quite as apparent az
- T.aot, and rn,,,;sh hraal,. il m. h.,ad
Enlarged demand for draught horses. locally,
is caused by activity in railroad building. 1t
Il grauiyihg 10 holice Una. IN so''e p'fs' VI
;ntroJnced or extended there has arisen
an unaccustomed demand for horses. In
the Territories the establishment of horse
rshches mas increased 'he nuiipefs y. rs
and profitable stock for the range. They
are not exempt. however, from losses and
disabilities, as there are local complaints OF
,.'e 'ep e et y, ~ a III" T..
80 ,ortians - tba Nestsr, Wheat .r...
there mas Deen INVERSION from ceftais 10 idfHi
animals, but especially to horses. as the
,oeai ue,,''"i - 60 =, i'p ~ =, las.
demand in certain localities in the
Ohio Valley which are reducing arabic
area and ehiarglng permanent
pas.. .;e, y, Iii. 49, ,Iathor. e,;s,s because
buvers have not been sufficiently active in
their purchasers"
1 The aggregate numbers of the different
classes of farm animals on farms and ranches
at the beginning of 1889 is given below; but
the figures do not include horses or cows
owned in cities or towns which readers will
understand would very largely increase the
totals given if they could be correctly OBJ
tanned Mich cows, l5,2ss'e25 oxen and
other cattle, 35, Opal, sheep, ~ 599,-
O79; swine, 90, 30l ,592; horses, l3,663.294
The values of farm animals have but lit
tie changed from one year ago. Cattle have
somev hat declined, horses and sheep have
slightly advanced. Mich cows declined II
cents per head; and in the case Of oxen and
other cattle the increase in numbers is not