Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/117

 CHAXGLXG COyOITIONS IX KESTUCKY iii

The normal market price for the first is five dollars to seven dollars per pound, but now, owing to the war, the price has fallen, I came upon one old man and his wife, digging "sang" in the woods, who stopped to talk for an hour and wanted to know why it is that the Chinese can not live without the root, and what would happen to that people when the supply shortly would give out in America, but who tlien consoled themselves with the thought that probably the Chinese have enormous amounts of it stored away in anticipation.

Animal Resources

Wild game is becoming surprisingly scarce, due to over hunting and lax observation of hunting laws. In general the supply of fish is low, some causes being: Dynamiting and seining, lack of restocking, and in- constant and turbid streams resulting from deforestation. What little meat is eaten is chiefly swine and chicken. Sheep continue to suffer from exposure and dogs, and are decreasing in numbers. Beef is walked to market to obtain cash with which to pay taxes. Cattle raising is becoming more important. The Ayrshire stock is giving way to a fine short-horn type of cattle, owing to the opening of stockyard cattle markets, as at Mt. Sterling. The mountain mule and pony are being displaced by larger types. Mules are increasing, while horses are de- creasing. Goats suffer from the rough, wet, winter climate.

The development of pasturage for live stock would prove to be a lasting advantage. Timothy is the chief forage crop; clover is second. A diminutive Japanese clover has filtered into the mountains, and takes possession of deserted fields. It is good for grazing, but it is too small to be cut.

��Pic 5. Loas

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