inclosure, where they are fed. The result of this has been that the animals have had insufficient exercise, whereby the hoofs have had too slight wear. The ox has from this cause been indisposed of late. The hoofs have now been trimmed, after which its condition appears to have become very good, as appears from telegram of the 13th instant.

I entertain meanwhile no doubt but what musk oxen may be successfully acclimatized in Norway for a beginning in the northern territory.

That the musk ox, with its abundance of wool, its great strength, its hardiness and frugality, would become of importance to our farmers can not be doubted. The trouble is that the experiments are too expensive for private persons. The interest in these experiments is very great in Sweden, wherefore Swedish scientific people have tried to obtain the animals now at Skaaroe. This seems to favor my idea about the acclimation of musk oxen, etc.

Other information concerning the musk ox may be found in the Annual Reports of the Bureau of Animal Industry for 1901 (pp. 507512) and 1902 (p. 484).

Ostrich farming in Australia.-Ostriches have been introduced into Australia, and the experiment of their acclimatization and rearing has proved highly successful. Twenty-two of the birds were brought from Africa and were placed on a farm near Sydney. They are fed on rice, Indian corn, and vegetables, requiring but little water. They lay eggs about three times a year, and from twenty to thirty eggs at each laying period. The birds mature in two and a half to three years. Those raised in Australia produce magnificent feathers, pure white, measuring 27 inches in length by 15 inches in width. Our southwestern Territories (Arizona and New Mexico) might prove profitable fields for ostrich farming. (Simon W. Hanauer, deputy consul-general, Frankfort, Germany, August 29, 1903.)

Hides in Java.-Hides play an important rôle in the export trade of Java. Buffalo hides are well prepared, so that in quality they are better than those of British India and the other islands of the East Indian Archipelago. These hides are exported to Amsterdam, whence they go in large quantities to Germany. The poorer quality find their way via Singapore to England, where, under the name of "Singapore buff," they are known as an inferior article. Hides of cattle are also exported and are of good quality, being on the whole thinner and more tender than European cattle hides. All hides are well stretched and sun dried; other preservatives, such as salt, are not used.

Goatskins in Java. The export of goatskins has become very important during the past fifteen years and amounts to more than $500,000 per annum, although the official statistics show a much smaller figure, owing to the low value placed upon the skins in computing the export duty. The United States is the best customer for goatskins, even the greater part of the large quantities of skins consigned to Amsterdam finding its way thither.-(Walter Schumann consul, Mainz, Germany, July 23, 1903.)

Austrian rice for horse feed in the United States.-A considerable quantity of granulated rice and rice flour was exported from Trieste to New York and Philadelphia during the past year. This article is laid down in the United States at from 1 to 14 cents per pound, and is said to be used for horse feed in the Eastern States.(Frederick W. Hossfeld, consul, Trieste, Austria.)

Sheep-feeding plant in Washington.-By the courtesy of Mr. Thomas H. Rutter, of North Yakima, Wash., the Bureau of Animal Industry has received the information contained herein and the photograph shown on Plate XXII. This feeding plant, which is the only one of the kind in Washington, is owned by the Cameron Brothers, of North Yakima, and consists of feed yards, barn, hay-cutter, engine, and a 7-inch pipe, through which the cut alfalfa is delivered into the barn, being forced upward by a blower. There the cut hay and threshed wheat are mixed in the proportion of 2 pounds of the former to 2 pounds of the latter. The wheat does not settle to the bottom, as one one might suppose. The feed is supplied to the sheep through numerous chutes. By this method three men are able to feed as many as 6,000 sheep. The owners claim that this method of feeding insures the quickest fattening and minifies the waste.

Sweepstakes Angoras.-The sweepstakes Angora buck and doe at the annual exhibit of the American Angora Goat Breeders' Association, at Kansas City, last October, are shown on Plate XXII. They are both from South African bucks, which were imported by Wm. M. Landrum, in 1901, and in many respects represent the ideal Angora. They were shown by Frank O. Landrum, of Laguna, Tex. The buck was sold in the ring, and was purchased by Messrs. E. L. Witt & Sons of Montell, Tex., at the price of $1,300.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS IN FOREIGN

COUNTRIES.

By GEORGE FAYETTE THOMPSON, M. S.,
Editor, Bureau of Animal Industry.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The following report of the contagious diseases of domestic animals in Great Britain is from the report of the British Board of Agriculture for the year 1902:

SWINE FEVER.

It is satisfactory to record that the number of outbreaks of swine fever in Great Britain for the 52 weeks ended December 27, 1902 (the statistical year), fell to 1,688 as compared with 3,140 in the corresponding period of the previous year. Since the Board commenced their operations against this disease in 1893 the lowest returns for corresponding periods had been 2,155 in 1897 and 1,940 in 1900. The figures for 1902 show, therefore, a decline of 252 outbreaks as compared with the lowest figures previously recorded.

SHEEP SCAB.

As regards the prevalence of sheep scab, 1,664 outbreaks were reported in Great Britain during the year, a slight increase over the 1,537 reported in 1901. The figure, however, still compares favorably with that of 1900, which was 1,939. In England there has been a noticeable improvement, there having been 601 outbreaks confirmed by the local authority in 38 counties, as against 737 outbreaks in 41 counties in 1901. In Wales the outbreaks increased from 696 to 779, one county less being involved than in 1901; in Scotland from 104 to 194, three more counties being involved.

GLANDERS.

From an administrative point of view there is nothing of special interest to chronicle with regard to glanders. There was a slight decrease in outbreaks as compared with 1901, viz, 1,155 as against 1,347. The disease remains prevalent in the same districts as before, namely, London and the home counties, and the areas round other populous centers such as Liverpool and Glasgow. There was a decrease from 1901 of the number of outbreaks in the county of London of 154 (from 1,009 to 855), which may be regarded as a satisfactory feature.

ANTHRAX.

The cases of anthrax showed a slight increase, rising to 678. The method of destroying the carcasses by burning, alluded to in the report of last year, is being more generally adopted, and the results have given satisfaction. The local authorities in ten counties have obtained the necessary licenses for cremation from the Board. An extension of the practice seems desirable and will, no doubt, be gradually brought about.

DENMARK.

With the report for September missing from our records, the condition of diseases of domestic animals in Denmark in 1903 was not very different from that of 1902, except the increase in hog diseases.

Outbreaks of contagious diseases among domestic animals in Denmark for the year 1903.

The contagious diseases of domestic animals in Belgium in 1903 were neither numerous nor extensive. The most important disease reported upon was foot-and-mouth disease, of which there were 43 premises; in 1902 there were 870.

Cases of contagious diseases of domestic animals in Belgium in 1903.

FRANCE.

It seems that in France the authorities are gradually getting the upper hand of the foot-and-mouth disease. The outbreaks, which numbered 37,397 in 1901, were reduced to 9,152 in 1902 and to 1,454 in 1903. In this number are included 25 outbreaks reported from Algeria. The total cases of rabies continue large, the number being 2,363; this is 28 larger than in 1902.

Contagious diseases of domestic animals in France in 1903.

The only material change in the status of contagious diseases of animals in Switzerland in 1903 from the previous year is the great reduction in the cases of foot-and-mouth disease. In 1902 the reports showed 15,531 cases, while in 1903 the number was but 659. This indicates that such attention is being given to this disease as will very soon eradicate it altogether.