Sheep seem to be the most numerous of the large animals of the world,
with a total of about 580,000,000 head.
Australia ranks first, with about 88,-
000,000; Argentina second with 67,-
000,000; United States third, with a-
bout 57,000,000; European Russia and
Asiatic Turkey each have approximately 45,000,000; Great Britian with 27,-
000,000 in 1908 has more sheep in proportion to its area than any other important nation.
The World's Cattle.
The number of cattle enumerated or
estimated, about 430,000,000, although smallei than that of sheep, is
much more important, owing to their
larger size. In total number of cattle,
British India ranks first,' with about
91,000,000 (including buffaloes and
buffalo calves); the United States
ranks second,, with about 70,000,000;
Russia third, with about 36,000,000;
Argentina and Brazil each have about
30,000,000; Germany about 20,000,000;
Austria-Hungary 18,000,000 (in 1900),
France 14,000,000, and the United
Kingdom 12,000,000. The proportion
of the total number of cattle which is
beef cattle, work cattle, or milch cows
has not been estimated.
Most Hogs in the rniteil States.
The United States is pre-eminent as a
swine-producing nation, being credited with approximately 50,000,000 head
out of a world supply of less than
150,000,000; Germany ranks second,
with about 22,000,000; European Russia has about 11,000,000; France 7,-
000,000; Austria had .5,000,000 in 1900,
and Hungary 7,000,000 in 1895. No
other country is credited with as many
as 5,000,000.
Equal in Horses.
Horses aggregate about 95,000,000;
European Russia and the United States
have almost an equal number, between
20,000>000 and 25,000,000 head; Argentina has about 8,000,000; Asiatic
Russia is credited with about 7,000-
000; Germany 4,000,000; France 3,-
000,000; the United Kingdom 2,000,-
000; Austria and Hungary, each had
about 2,000,000 in 1900 and 1895,. respectively.
Of the 7,500,000 mules that are esti-
crease the profits of the farmers and
fertilize the farms of these older
countries. If favorable conditions for
live stock production in the United
States would be maintained, every
pound of feed produced here that is
suitable for live stock production
should be converted into live stock,
and if economic conditions are not
such as to encourage a more extensive
production of live stock on the farms
of the United States, it should be the
business  of  the  federal  government  to
available to the live stock farmers of
the United States at the lowest possible cost, and that they should not bo
obliged to compete in our markets with
finished animal products. Such competition will discourage live stock production, it will render grain farming
less profitable, because after all is
said, live stock production is the principal outlet of our corn and hay crops:
Should live stock production cease to
be profitable, the margin of profit in
grain growing would be so greatly reduced that farmers of .the United
States could not produce grain at a
profit and at the same time maintain
the fertility of their lands. Sooner or
later the fact will be recognized that
for many years In this country it was
possible to buy agricultural products
at a price which was but little above
the cost of the labor involved in their
production.
When it is known that in the ten
years, 1901-1910, the population of the
United States increased 20.52 per cent,
While live stock has increased 10.27
per cent, it is clearly evident that, if it
is good policy to develop in this country nu Important animal husbandry, it
is time the government should turn its
attention to fostering the industry.
With a rapidly increasing population,
certain forms of animal production will
naturally be supplanted by others, but
these new conditions which are being
imposed on the live stock producers as
a result of increased population have
thus far but increased his difficulties.
 »-^.—.
SEARCH FOR POTASH IK U. S.
The United States Geological Survey
has just issued a short report on the
progress of work in deep drilling for
potash which has been carried on in
Nevada. While no discovery of potash
salts is announced the work was valuable in that ;". gave the geologists good
reasons to believe that they will, sooner
or later, discover in some one of these
desert basins commercial deposits of
soluble potash such as constitute the
great Strassfurt beds in Germany. The
drilling so far is some 400 feet, but it is
expected to be continued until at least
1,000 feet is reached.
Similar work has been carried on in
Wyoming where deposits of saline have
been found. This, they say, is an indication that possibly potash is present
nearby.
estimated at abou* 1,600,000,000; or
about 80 per cent as many domestic
animals as people in the world.
Live Stock Profitable.
Live stock production must have been
found profitable else" it would have long
since been discontinued. Would it not
be well for the farmers of the United
States to realize fully that it is not good
economic policy to permit their animal foodstuffs    to be exported    to in
see  that  conditions  are  favorable.
Live Stock in United states.
The live stock producers of the United States should be given the most
favorable opportunity indefinitely to
supply the growing demand in this
country for animal products. This
will most certainly mean that raw materials suitable for live stock, produced more cheaply In other countries
<han  in  the  United   States,   should  be
64$^
ON ORGANIZING FARMERS' CLUBS.
One of our subscribers writes us asking where lie can get information in regard to organizing farmers' clubs.
Prof. W. C l^Uta, of Purdue University, who has charge of the Farmers'
Institutes which are now being held
in various parts of the state, can give
such information to any one wishing to
organize such a club, and will be able
to help and give suggestions in the organization.