Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-03
Report Of the Department OF AgricuI-
ture for April. 1850,

The last monthly report Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture relates TO the condi-
ton Of farm animals and of winter wheat
and rye ON the first of April, 1889 The
general condition Of winter wheat is good
The report says that a year Of greater ex
emption from winter killing could scarcely
be expected notwithstanding the compare
tive absence of snow covering The aver
age condition is higher than for several
years, with the exception of 1856, when it
was about the same The April condition
of wheat in 1884, the year in which one of
the largest crops ever raised was harvested
was a triile higher, being 81. 4 against ~
this month Its condition April last year
was SEE points below that of this spring
Winter rye is marked at 1913
Farm animals are reported to average in
unusually good condition, no disease pre-
vailng among them to any great extent.
As usual, the statistcian says, condition is
highest in New England and in the North
ern Middle states, attributable almost en-
tirely to the care in housing and feeding
stock which Is shown in this section. In
spite of rigorous climate and IA longer
winter feeding season, the returns, year af
ter year, show better status here than in
those sections which by nature are more
favored. Proper feed and shelter are pro.
vided, and the increased care and attention
necessary is fully repaid by the better
health and fattening possibilities of the
stock Animals uuderfed and exposed t,
the winter blasts are so reduced in vitality
that the greater part of the summer i;
passed in recovering from the effects Of the
abuse, and their existence becomes a con
slant struggle. While pasturage exist,
they are storing up vitality to be needlessly
wasted during the incement season Growtl
is checked and full development made i'm
possible.
The loss of cattle the last year from dis
ease, exposure and all causes is reportel
very light the mild winter and the abund
ance Of forage having materially diminish
ed the loss. 1t has been largest in the Soutl
and in the territories, and least in New
England and the North Atlantic states. Elk
posture and partial starvation have causeC
the greater part of the losses The loves
per cent of loss is i'll Massachusetts anc
Rhode Island, where it is estimated at only
one per cent The highest per cent of los,
is in Florida-5.5 per cent These est
mates do not include the cattle upon tn,
ranches. The loss in Vermont is placed a
- per cent.
The average loss of sheep for all tn,
states and territories is estimated at B.
per cent; in Vermont 23; in Georgia
which shows the greatest loss, per cent
There is but little serious disease anon.
sheep in any part of the country. Tn,
greatest losses are from sheep killing dogs
Maine and Vermont report "A loss of onl,
one per cent of horses. The average fol
the United States is 10 per cent Their,
are no diseases prevalent among horses t,
any great extent, and their average condi
ton is unusually high.
There is still considerable loss of swim,
from disease though it is less than fo
many years before. In 1887 the averag,
loss was l3.4 per cent 1856, II; 1885
81; 1883, IS. This year it is estimate,
at g. per cent.