a preference for cane cut before the seed is formed, the majority, in order that there may be more nourishment in both the stalk and head, prefer letting it stand until the seed is in the dough.

While it is generally admitted that cane is valuable as forage, it is also agreed that, as a rule, it is not suitable as a constant, continuous feed in cold weather, but should be fed alternately with prairie and millet hay; and with a view to improving the feed and assisting in preserving the cane when stacked, cane and millet are sown together, and the millet allowed to ripen well before harvesting. This method insures good feed. One serious objection to cane when not properly cured is its liability to freeze and sour, and thus while materially lessening its value as forage, causing stock to purge, and making their teeth sensitive and their mouths sore. Where cattle are well sheltered in winter and generously fed on other forage, a field of standing cane, to graze on when the weather will permit, is by some considered desirable, and so far as an individual opinion may go, I wish to add that this is the only manner in which standing cane should be used in the winter season. The States of Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, and the Territory of Wyoming, pay little or no attention to sorghum cane as forage, while Western Kansas raises thousands of acres for that purpose. The notable lack of hay or meadow land in Southwestern Kansas, and the immense influx of population-thus annually converting ranges of many miles in extent into agricultural districts-has caused stockmen to resort to the raising of forage crops to sustain their herds in winter, instead of relying upon buffalo grass and free range as they formerly did.

Many thousands of cattle have already been driven to Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, and placed upon new ranges, while many others have been sold to form small herds here and there over the prairies, because of the change above referred to, and the days of long-horned cattle, free ranging, extensive round-ups, &c., are destined soon to be "among the things that were," in the State of Kansas.

SOUTHERN CATTLE FEVER.

I am glad to be able to state there has not been so far as I have been able to learn, an outbreak of Texas fever or any other contagious or infectious disease within the Territory assigned me, and that there is at present no immediate prospect of such a calamity befalling us. Thousands upon thousands of Texas and other cattle have been moved from one point to another without causing or spreading any disease, a thing never before known, and since this movement has only been permitted under the supervision of laws, State and national, after strict sanitary and veterinary inspection, the public in general, and stockmen in particular, see and feel the benefits arising from the enactment of such laws and the enforcement of all necessary veterinary and sanitary regu lations.

In reply to that portion of my instructions requiring an investigation into the cause, extent, and contagious character of "Texas fever," socalled, I regret to state that I have not been able to obtain any definite knowledge in reference thereto, not already in the possession of the Department.

Respectfully submitted.

LAWRENCE WILSON, Inspector Bureau of Animal Industry.

LARNED, KANS., September, 1885.

12508 A I-28

INVESTIGATION OF SWINE PLAGUE IN NEBRASKA.

During the year 1884 swine-plague prevailed to a wide extent in Nebraska, and with such disastrous results as to attract the serious attention of all those interested in the breeding and rearing of hogs for the market. The industry is one of great importance to the farmers of this State, as it is through the production of these animals that a great part of their immense corn crops is marketed. The production of corn in this young State in the year 1884 was given at 122,100,000 bushels, valued at $21,978,000. The number of hogs produced in the State the same year was estimated by the Statistician of this Department at 1,786,383, valued at $13,022,732.

In the spring of 1884 the Department was urgently requested by Hon. James Laird, Representative in Congress of the second district of Nebraska, and others, to send a competent veterinarian into the State for the purpose of making a thorough investigation as to the extent and cause of this destructive disease, with a view to the discovery of a preventive or remedy for it. At that time it was impossible to comply with these urgent requests, as all the inspectors of the Bureau of Animal Industry were employed in important investigations that could not be interrupted or suspended. The best that could be done at the time was to institute a preliminary examination by correspondence, as it was thought that a competent veterinarian could be spared from other work later in the season, and at a time when the disease prevails to a greater extent than in the spring. The following circular letter was therefore prepared and forwarded to the county officers in every county in the State, and also to the statistical correspondents of the Department in each county:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY,

Washington, D. C., April 20, 1885. SIR: During the year 1884 diseases of swine prevailed to a wide extent in the State of Nebraska, and the losses were so great as to attract the serious attention of all those interested in this industry. This Department has been appealed to by many prominent citizens of this State to institute an investigation locking to a discovery of the cause of the maladies that have proved so destructive to these animals, and recommend such sanitary and preventive measures as the exigencies of the case may require. It was the intention of the Department to send a competent veterinarian to conduct the investigations within the borders of the State, but this has been prevented for the present by the investigation of destructive contagious diseases prevailing elsewhere, requiring the constant attention of the full professional force of the Bureau of Animal Industry. In view of this fact, the Department has determined to institute a preliminary examination by addressing this circular letter to its regular correspondents in Nebraska, and to many other prominent and intelligent stock-raisers of the State, whose names have been furnished us. If those receiving this circular will promptly and as accurately as possible answer the questions on the opposite page, they will confer a favor on the Department and assist in collecting information which may prove of great importance to the swine industry of their State.

Very respectfully,

NORMAN J. COLMAN,

Commissioner.

At the time this circular letter was forwarded there were seventythree counties in the State. While from a majority of the counties there were from one to four or five replies received, there were a few counties from which no returns were made. Forty-eight of these counties rendered returns as to the number of animals raised, the number affected with disease, the number of those attacked that died, the market value of such losses per head and the total value of the animals lost, of sufficient accuracy to form the following table:

Statement showing the number of hogs raised in forty-eight counties in Nebraska, in 1884, the number affected with infectious and contagious diseases, and the number of those attacked that die; the market value per head, and the total annual losses by such diseases.

BREEDING AND MANNER OF REARING HOGS IN NEBRASKA, CAUSE OF

DISEASE, ETC.

The following extracts from letters of correspondents of the Department not only give the history of the first appearance of the disease in the State, and its many and varied characteristics and symptoms, but

also furnish valuable information as to the breeding and the manner of rearing and fattening hogs for the market. The letters are given in alphabetical order by counties:

Adams. In one locality a herd would be affected, the disease passing by two or three farms where, perhaps, the hogs, to all appearances, were not kept in good quarters or were not well cared for. It would then attack another lot. Invariably about 90 per cent. would be afflicted, of which 88 per cent. would die. Again, on another farm all hogs would die except the poorest and most worthless ones, and in about sixty or ninety days thereafter the hogs on the adjoining farm would be attacked. Brood sows suffered the least and recovered best, unless when suckling pigs, when, all would die. Probably every known remedy has been tried, but all in vain, as in no case has the disease been checked when once started in a herd Where preventives were used the disease apparently was only staved off for a time. Here and there a herd may be found that has not been attacked, but why, no one can tell.--(E. J. HARRIATT.) The food for hogs in this part of Nebraska is largely corn, fed dry. Many hogs, however, have plenty of green food, also oats, shorts, &c. The sleeping places are not as dry as they should be. For my own hogs (usually from 200 to 300 in number) I have a plank floor, and keep it dry and clean. I always feed my hogs common salt, copperas, sulphur, and occasionally some slaked lime. I also burn the cobs of the corn on which they are mainly fed. Have rye field, but the hogs were in clover yard all winter when the disease was the most prevalent. None of my hogs have died. Care and preventive measures may possibly have had something to do with their healthy condition, as those of my neighbor died freely. In feeding copperas, sulphur, &c., I put each in a separate trougli or box, where the hogs can help themselves to all they want. I am certain that wallowing in the mire is mighty poor business for a hog.— (JOHN N. LYMAN, M. D.)

Antelope.-Dry corn and clean water, with coal ashes and occasional salting, are considered all the elements necessary to fatten swine economically. Of course good shelter is a necessity. For the growth of pigs, sour milk, barley, and oat-meal, with good pasture, are best. We have no cholera, and every hog that has died could have been saved with care. The number of hogs raised in the county has doubled in three years, and the number will rapidly increase for years to come.(F. H. TROWBRIDGE.) Boone. I would say in answer to your inclosed inquiry as regards diseases of hogs that no cases have existed in this county. We are from 50 to 100 miles west of the line where the disease has made its ravages. The counties bordering on the Missouri River have suffered the most.-(H. RICE.)

Brown. This county is quite new, and but few hogs are as yet raised here. No diseases of any kind have appeared among this class of animals so far.-(B. H. McGREW.)

Buffalo.-About one-fifth of the hogs in this county died of disease last year. They coughed and had swollen throats, sneezed, and were very dumpish. When afflicted with sneezing and coughing they would become so dull and dumpish as to be easily killed by cattle running over them. An examination after death showed their lungs to be rotten. The first I heard of the disease was among hogs brought here from Iowa. I regard the disease as contagious.-(NATHAN CAMPBELL.)

Burt.-Hogs are prepared for market in various ways, none of which seem to make any difference, as one lot fed on corn will die as will another lot running on pasture. No remedy has been found to work satisfactorily, except exercise, which has given the best results. Some farmers keep their hogs shifting from place to place. Some claim that feeding the dead hogs raw to the living stops the disease, acting as a physic. The symptoms never appear twice alike.—(A. A. THOMAS.)

Butler.-The hogs in this community are generally kept in corrals or yards on dry feed, and are watered from wells. Still the disease does not appear to be any more prevalent with stock kept in this manner than when it runs in pastures. Corn is the universal food. Almost every community has a "doctor," who can cure the prevailing disease, but, so far as I have been able to learn, but little benefit has been received from doctoring. The lack of fences or lots has prevented the changing of hogs to clean grounds. As a rule, the disease generally kills wherever it attacks.-(Č. B. PARKER.)

It should be remembered that it takes a certain percentage of food to supply daily animal waste. The young animal converts into flesh more of the food given than a full grown one. No matter how long the animal is kept, the daily waste goes on constantly. Hence, it should require no argument to show that the true economy is to feed strong from birth if the object be simply to sell the animal when fat. When in proper condition sell the animal at once, unless the state of the market is such that it will pay to hold for a time. If pens are kept clean and not too much crowded the animals will do better. Most diseases are produced by filthy pens and impure water.— (JOHN R. TOWNSEND.)

Hogs are fed mostly on corn. During the season a good many are fed with cattle. but in the winter the disease attacks all alike. Almost everything in the way of remedies have been tried with but little success. Turning hogs on pasture in the spring does not abate the disease. It does not seem to make any difference how hogs are kept as regards cleanliness or protection against weather. Any information you can give to assist us in breaking up the disease will be greatly appreciated.-(SPELTS & KLOSTERMAN.)

Cass.-The general course in this county in raising hogs is to feed the sows while suckling the pigs all the corn in ear they will eat, and to continue the same feeding until the pig goes to market. As to "sanitary" or "preventive measures" I think I know better than I practice, for after my hogs began to die I commenced roasting the carcasses which I fed to those living. I gave salt, slop made of rye, milk-feed, and furnished them with stone coal, all of which was a change and greatly relished by them, particularly the stone coal. I also made them good shelters where they could go in out of the rain and cold dews of night,, because I thought they were suffering with lung fever, as, I think, most of the other hogs were. Any feeding that will produce more bone and muscle and less fat will be a good course for me to take, hence I am sowing clover and fencing, so that I can put them out of those filthy little pens-(JAMES HALL.)

Cedar. The general system of feeding here is corn and water only. Very little ground feed is used.-(CLEON OSBORNE.)

Clay.-Hogs are generally kept in small yards and fed on corn. Usually care is taken to change these yards often. Some parties keep their hogs in filthy yards, holding them for years in the same place without cleaning, and allowing them to become very muddy. It is strange that some of the herds that have had the greatest attention and care given them, from a sanitary standpoint, were among the first to be attacked and suffered the greatest loss.-(J. B. DINSMORE.)

Over 1,000 head of hogs have been lost in this and Nuckolls County by the so-called hog cholera. Messrs. Downing, Bradley, Spears, and Galley, of Nuckolls County, have lost near 500 head.-(D. N. HAMILTON.)

Farmers are in the habit of feeding stone-coal. Such as do have healthy hogs. This has been an unusually cold winter, and hogs would "pile up," and so take cold, which generally brings on the disease. A good plan is to build low, closed pens for them, so they can lie down singly, and thus keep cool. The pens can be ventilated, but at the same time made comfortable. There is too much "in and in " breeding, which has resulted in loss of vital power, making the present stock of hogs too tender to stand the sudden changes of this climate.-(MARTIN CLARK, M. D.)

Nearly all hogs are fed on corn in the ear, both for growing and fattening. A very small proportion follow fattening cattle. There are very few green pastures for hogs in the county. All kinds of remedies have been used, such as copperas, sulphur, charcoal, carbolic acid, &c. These have been used both as remedies and disinfectants in sheds and bedding. Some patent nostrums were also used, but nothing seemed to have any very beneficial effect, as fully 90 per cent. of those attacked died. Those that recovered usually lost all their hair, and were so prostrated as to be more of an expense and damage than of benefit to their owners.-(D. M. NETTLETON.)

Cheyenne.-The business is not carried on to any great extent in this county. There are not 100 head of hogs in the county as yet.-(J. J. MCINTOSH.)

The hogs in this county have been perfectly free from disease.-(WILLIAM J. BRENNAN.)

Colfax.-In regard to feeding and fattening hogs I will say that some are fed corn and others run after cattle. It is asserted by some that worms are the cause of disease in hogs. I have found coal to be the best remedy for worms.-(J. E. JENKINS.)

General opinion seems to prevail that good care, change of feed, plenty of room, occasional feed of soft coal, coal-ashes, sulphur, charcoal, plenty of clean, pure water, have a good deal to do with keeping hogs healthy and free from this epidemic. Many herds have been attacked and literally "cleaned out" without any apparent cause. Others may lose only a part of their hogs. All losses of swine are attributed to the "hog disease" while such disease is prevailing, whether occasioned by the disease or not. (THERON W. WHILMAN.)

Hogs in this county are usually kept in small lots and close pens. Those having large lots, with plenty of clean, fresh water, seem to be less liable to attack by the disease. Some farmers have used oil cake, parched corn, salts, sulphur, &c., and claim that they have acted as preventives, but seldom, if ever, as cures.-(J. F. WOODS.) Cuming. As a rule, in a sanitary sense, hogs received very little care. Fattening hogs are inclosed in small pens in the midst of mud and filth with little or no shelter, and allowed unlimited feed. Corn is universally fed to hogs of all ages and in all seasons of the year. I know of no preventive measures being used except ashes and soft coal, which are occasionally given. Our large stock-growers, when feeding beef cattle, allow their hogs to run in the same inclosure and feed from the droppings of the cattle; but the greater portion of our farmers keep and fatten their hogs in the