tirely ignorant of the cause of the disease. It might be well to investigate as to the cause of the malady, during the season in which it prevails. I have heard of this disease in other counties south of this, and my attention has been so often called to it of late that I concluded to report it.

The swine plague, as in the counties above, is the serious trouble here. The disease has prevailed for many years, and this year it has been particularly severe in most of the districts.

In Williamsburgh district the loss is estimated at not more than 10 per cent., while all the other districts are estimated to have lost from 40 to 75 per cent. Districts along the water and large streams suffer more than those inland. Williamsburgh district lies entirely away from the water. This confirms the observations made here and in other counties, that the infection of swine plague spreads more rapidly along the water-courses. Whether this is because the farmers so frequently throw their dead hogs into the water, or whether the bacteria are propagated in the water, I am unable to determine without experimenting and thorough investigation. On this peninsula it is evident the contagion spreads much more rapidly through the water than through the air or over the land. I have visited every district, and have talked with numbers of the best farmers, getting their opinions and estimates as to their own losses and losses in their neighborhoods, taking notes of my conversation with every man. Could I know the number of hogs in the county or in each district I could form a very accurate estimate of the loss. Without these data I have estimated 3 hogs owned by each voter. This is here considered rather under than above the average. The value of hogs is also a difficult question to decide. I find in the Report of the Department of Agriculture that the average value of hogs for the State of Maryland, estimated in January, 1886, is placed at $5.95. To be within bounds, I have estimated the average value at $5.

In the following table the number of voters latest registration lists:

was

obtained from the

From this table the loss would appear to be $39,780. We will then subtract from this the estimated loss in the first precinct of Cambridge district, which is composed of villagers, many of whom keep no

loss.

Total

losses.

hogs, and we have $39,780, less $5,205, leaving $34,575 as the loss for the county.

This may be thought a large estimate, but I am convinced I am within bounds. In every instance I have cut down the estimates made by the farmers from 10 to 15 per cent., except in Church Creek district, where every man I talked with (and they were many) estimated the loss this year at 75 per cent. or over, and in Williamsburgh district the loss was placed at 10 per cent. by all with whom I talked. Large quantities of pork must be imported into this county this year to supply the wants of the people. Fattening as well as stock hogs are dying rapidly now, and many farmers have told me they are afraid to kill their own fat hogs though they appear healthy, fearing they may be infected and prove unhealthy food.

This county of Dorchester is the largest in the State. In former years the farmers have depended greatly upon their hog crop both for food and for revenue. They are now greatly discouraged, and if this disease continues to rage they will have to abandon the industry.

TALBOT COUNTY.

Talbot County is one of the richest and best cultivated counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Many more cattle are kept here than in any county south of this. Quite a number of the farmers keep thorough-bred herds of Herefords and Jerseys. The general condition of the stock is good, and I find no disease of any kind among cattle. This freedom from disease is, however, to be wondered at from the fact that cattle purchased from the stock-yards at Baltimore are brought here by boat to supply the beef market at Easton. This is done almost weekly. Besides, many farmers are in the habit of purchasing stock cattle in Baltimore and other points for feeding during the winter. Very little of this business, however. has been done this winter, because the farmers have become alarmed by the reports of pleuro-pneumonia in all the stock-yards in the East. The authorities here, I believe, are considering the propriety of establishing a quarantine against Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Wilmington. Unless this is done there is great danger of an outbreak here because of the constant traffic with these cities in cattle. The horses are all in healthy condition.

The swine plague here, as in other counties I have inspected, exists to an alarming extent. The disease has been in this county for many years, and this year has ravaged many portions of the county to a greater extent than ever. It has been very severe along Miles River, St. Michael's River, the Chesapeake Bay, the Choptank, and all the inlets and creeks from these waters, while in the northern part of the county, in Chapel district, there has been but little of it this year, though last year it was more severe in this part of the county. I visited every portion of the county, and found the people greatly alarmed at the losses sustained from the disease. They can not now raise pork to supply their own wants, but import large quantities yearly, while in former years much pork was annually shipped from here to the larger cities. The farmers are negligent and careless as to the disposal of the hogs dying from the disease, leaving them to rot upon the land or throwing them into the streams, by both methods spreading the infection broadcast. Some few, however, are thoughtful enough to bury the dead animals. This matter certainly calls for legislation.

In estimating the losses I have consulted with men of all classes in every district and neighborhood, and the percentage of loss I have placed at the lowest estimates made. The number of voters is as taken from the registration books. I have estimated 3 hogs owned by each voter, which is rather a low estimate for this county, and $5 the value per head.

The estimated losses are shown by the following table:

By the above table it will be seen that the total loss for this county for this year amounts to $36,579. This estimate is entirely within the limits.

CAROLINE COUNTY.

I find no disease among cattle in this county. In former years many farmers purchased stock cattle in the large markets for winter feeding, but this year, because of the reports of pleuro-pneumonia in and around our large cities, they have been afraid to make such purchases. By this caution they have very likely prevented the introduction of infectious diseases. The prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia in the country thus works a hardship upon the farmers of the county.

The horses are all reported healthy.

The swine plague that has been so destructive in other localities on this peninsula seems to have done very little damage in this county, as a whole.

This swine plague first made its appearance in this county in the fall of 1885, and is said to have been introduced by the purchase of a hog in Talbot County which was brought into Preston precinct of Harmony district, No. 4. This hog was procured for feeding purposes. It very soon sickened and died, infecting the whole herd of the purchaser. It was afterwards learned that disease existed in the herd of the gentleman who sold this hog. From this one animal the disease spread to some of the adjoining farms during that fall and winter, and during the year 1886 it spread and infected nearly every farm within a radius of 4 miles. It is estimated that 50 per cent. of the hogs have died in this infected district, amounting to a loss of $3,000 or more.

From this point the disease is spreading, and will soon take in all the lower portion of the county.

The disease has also made a lodgment in Tuckahoe Neck, near Hillsborough, another part of the county. Mr. Jarrell and Mr. Lord, in this locality, have lost nearly every animal from their large herds. This is a recent outbreak, but from these farms the disease is likely to spread. The other parts of the county are entirely free from the plague. This is surprising when it is known that the disease prevails in all the counties adjoining this on the south, west, and north,

and in Delaware on the east. It is quite possible the malady might be held in check in this county and much property saved by strict quarantine regulations and thorough sanitary precautions.

QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.

There are some

I find no disease among the cattle of this county. fine herds of Herefords and Shorthorns, and many grade cattle of good quality. There is much interest taken here in the breeding of fine stock of all kinds. Many farmers have been in the habit, in years past, of buying stock cattle for winter feeding and have found it profitable; but because of the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia in many sections of the country they have feared to do so this year. They are now feeding only such as are bred in the county, but this supply is entirely inadequate to their wants. They are hoping for national legislation to rid the country of this terrible plague.

Many fine horses are also bred in this county. The horse stock I found in healthy condition.

Finding so little disease among the swine in Caroline County, as stated in my last report, I had hoped to find but little in Queen Anne's, but I was disappointed. The ravages of swine plague in this county have been as great or greater than in any county I have inspected. There is no portion of the county exempt from it, and the losses have been very heavy in every part.

This year the disease has been more severe in the southern and western parts of the county, and the losses are here estimated at 75 per cent, or over. In some neighborhoods there is not a hog left.

Mr. T. A. Embert, merchant at Queenstown, says that this year he has not sold a pound of sage for sausage, nor a sack of salt for curing meat, while usually he has sold large quantities.

In the districts about Wye Mills, Wye Neck, Queenstown, and Kent Island there is scarcely a hog left. Above Centreville the losses this year have probably not gone above 55 per cent. This is an estimate by Mr. E. B. Emory, an extensive breeder of Shorthorn cattle, fine horses, Cottswold sheep, and Berkshire hogs. He has lost no hogs this year, but last year he lost 100 head of thoroughbred hogs, worth over $1,000; and in 1884 he lost over 300 head, worth over $3,000. His immunity from disease this year is attributed to his great care and the strict quarantine regulations enforced on his farm. After canvassing every part of the county I am of opinion that the loss for the whole county is this year at least 66 per cent.

According to the registration list of 1885 there are in this county 4,545 voters. If we estimate 3 hogs to the voter, as we have done in other counties, we have 13,635 hogs, and if we value them at $5 per head we have $68,175 as the value of the annual hog crop. Estimating the loss at 66 per cent., we have $44,995.50 as the loss to this county for the current year.

This is according to estimates made as I have usually made them in other counties, i. e., 3 hogs to the voter and $5 per head. Now, in this county, it is invariably estimated that at least 5 hogs are owned by each voter. This would make 22,725 hogs, and they are taxed at $4 per head, two-thirds of their actual value, making $6 the value per head, This would make $136,350 as the total value of the usual hog crop. Sixty-six per cent. of this amount would make $89,991 as the loss for this year. If the latter estimate is correct, my reports for the other counties I have inspected are far below the mark.

The same carelessness prevails here as in other counties as to the care of the sick and disposal of the dead animals. No care is taken to separate the sick from the well; no quarantine regulations are observed, and the dead are left to decay on the fields or are cast into the streams. There is a wonderful amount of ignorance among farmers as to the infectious character of the disease. It is worse than folly to attempt to cure an animal when once attacked, for so long as he is sick or convalescing he is scattering the seeds of infection, and should he recover he is usually valueless. Could the farmers be induced to kill the sick and bury the dead this plague might be checked. But if the present course is pursued they must soon cease to raise swine. Stringent legislative measures only can stop the spread of the disease.

HARFORD COUNTY.

I commenced the investigations of this county January 19. My work has been much delayed, as I could make but a few miles a day because of bad roads and deep mud. Besides, there are kept in this county a vast number of cattle, both for dairy and feeding purposes. As this county is so near Baltimore, a great center of infection, it has required great care and minute inquiry to determine the true condition of affairs. Along the line of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and the Maryland Central Railroad there are many dairy farms, from which great quantities of milk are shipped daily to Baltimore, and in some places butter is made for the same market.

In other parts of the county winter and summer feeding of steers for beef is made a large business. In the northeast quarter of the county, on nearly every farm, will be found from 10 to 140 head of feeding cattle; large numbers are also fed in other parts of the county. This feeding of cattle is a yearly business and a source of great revenue. Naturally rich soil has been greatly improved by this custom, until Harford County is one of the wealthiest in the State. Many herds of Jerseys are found here, and some fine Holstein-Friesians for the dairy, and a few good herds of Shorthorns for

beef.

I commenced my work at Havre de Grace, from there visiting the lower part of the county, and from thence up along the Susquehanna to the Deer Creek country, where are to be found some of the wealthiest and best-informed farmers of the State.

Nearly all the farmers cheerfully aided me in my investigations, and this was particularly the case with the members of the Deer Creek Farmer's Club, a society that has done much to advance the interests of the farmers of this county. From thence along the north line of the county to the Baltimore County line, and thence to Bel Air for the central and southwestern parts, the feeding cattle are in first-class condition. I found no disease among them of any kind. These cattle are generally purchased at the stock-yards at Baltimore. Immunity from disease must be attributed to the careful daily inspections made in these yards under the direction of the live stock sanitary board of this State. A few cattle, however, are bought in Pennsylvania, and some are brought from Canada. The dairy stock are not generally so well cared for. In many instances cows are not well fed, and stables are in a bad condition. Thorough search, however, revealed no cases of pleuro-pneumonia