Laver

LAVER. Porphyralaciniata.vulgaris. A sea weed eaten as a delicacy when boiled; green. laver ( trIva latissima) sometimes is substituted.

LAW. Laws relating to agriculture, such a,s. bird, dog, fence, forests, manures, roads, stock, weights and measures, etc., should be generally understood by farmers. It would save much costly litigation and neighborhood quarrels. We, therefore, give some of the most important laws in relation to the subjects of interest to the farm. The following digest of the bird laws of the United States was prepared by Hon. J. R. Dodge, one of the most correct statisticians in the United States: In Maine the penalty is one dollar for taking larks, robins, partridges, woodpeckers, or sparrows, between March 1st and July 1st; and ten dollars to the owner of lands, with the liquida tion of all damage suffered for any trespass committed, between March 1st and September 1st, in hunting or killing the above birds. The law in New Hampshire prescribes a line of one dollar for killing, taking, or having in possession, at any season of the year, any robin, thrush,lark, blue bird, oriole, sparrow , swallow, martin, woodpecker, bob-o'-link, yellowbird, linnet, fly-catcher, or warbler, or rail, yellowleg, or sandpiper, between March 1st and August 1st. The fine is three dollars. for each snipe, woodcock, or plover, between March 1st and Augusta st ; or for each partridge, or grouse, or quail, between March 1st and Septem ber 1st. One dollar additional is assessed for each bird, if taken in defiance of a published notice by the owner of the land—one-half for the use of the complainant, and the other half to the town or city. The action of the law may be suspended for one year, at any time, by vote of a town or city, so far as relates to such town or city. In Vermont the fine is one dollar in each case for taking, wounding, or killing, or for the destruction of the nest or eggs of the robin, blue bird, yellowbird, cherry, or cedar bird, catbird, kingbird, sparrow, lark, bob-o'link, thrush,. chickadee, pewee, wren, warbler, woodpecker, martin, swallow, night-hawk, whippoorwill, groundbird, linnet, plover, pheebe, bunting, humming bird, tattler, and creeper. The penal ties for the violation of the Massachusetts bird and game laws are as follows: Two dollars each for killing, at any time, robins, thrushes, linnets, sparrows, bluebirds, bob-o-links, yellowbirds, woodpeckers, or warblers; the same for killing birds on salt marshes, the owner excepted; five dollars for killing partridges or quail, between March 1st and September 1st ; woodcock, between March 1st and July 4th; five dollars for trapping or snaring any birds at any time, save partridges; twenty dollars for killing grouse or heath lien at any time, and ten dollars to the owner of the grounds and a search warrant authorized for any one suspected of the offense; and twenty dollars for hunting deer with hounds or dogs in Plymouth or Barnstable counties. -There is a fine of one dollar for killing between sunset and one hour before sunrising any plover, curlew, dough-bird, or chicken bird. Any city or town may vote to. suspend, within its limits, any of the provisions of this law. The Rhode Island law-makers have prescribed a penalty of two dollars in each case for killing, destroying, selling, buying, or having in possession any lark, robin, wood duck, gray duck, or black duck, between February 1st and September 1st, or quail, partridge, or wood cock between January 1st and September 20th., snipe, between May 1st and September 20th; grass plover, between•February 1st and August 1st; grouse, or heath hen, between January 1st -and November 1st, and swallow, or box martin, between May 1st aud October 1st; twenty dol lars in each case for killing woodcock between January 1st and July 1st. In addition, five dol lars may be imposed, to be paid to the owner of the land, for the first' offense, and ten dollars for the second offense, besides a liability to damage for trespass. Action must be brought within three months. In Connecticut a law was made in 1850, after much oppoSition, which has since been modified and rendered more effective. Insectivorous and song birds have greatly in -creased since, especially near towns and villages, and on the shore of Long Island Sound. A fine -of three dollars is imposed for killing, selling, or _possessing, or destroying a nest of eggs of wood cocks between the first day of February and the first day of July; pheasants, partridges, or ruf fed grouse, between the first day of February and the first day of September; quails of any species, between the first of February and the first of October; wood duck, widgeon, black, gray, broad-bill, canvas-back, or teal duck. The fine is one dollar for killing, or trapping, a nightingale, bluebird, Baltimore oriole, finch, thrush, lark, sparrow, catbird, wren, martin, swallow, or woodpecker, at any time, or a robin, ortob-o'-link, between the first of February and the first of September. The taking of brook or lake trout between September 1st and January 1st is fined one dollar. It is also forbidden under -a penalty of ten dollars, to take pheasants, part ridges, or quails, on the land of any other per .son. The laws of New York, both local and general, relative to birds and other game, are numerous, and frequently modified or suspended. By the recent law, insectivorous and other birds .are protected between February 1st and October. The fine is placed at five dollars for each wood -cock, between January 1st and July 4th; ruffed grouse, between January 1st and September 1st ; -quail, between January 1st and October 20th; wood, black, gray, and teal duck, between Feb ruary 1st and Augu.st 1st, (excepting upon the shores of Long Island). It is forbidden to catcla quail or ruffed grouse with a snare at any time; and it is unlawful to take prairie fowl within ten years, under penalty of ten dollars for each one killed or taken. Five dollars each is the penalty for taking trout between September 1st and March 1st. A penalty is incurred of one hun dred dollars and damages for putting lime or drugs in any lake, pond, or stream, by which fish may be injured. Owners of dams, if two feet or more in height, on the tributaries of Lake Ontario, Champlain, or the river St. Law rence, are required to provide a sluice at an inclination of not more than thirty degrees, suit ably constructed and protected, as a passage way for fish. Deer are prohibited game from February 15th to August 1st, in all counties, except Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jeffer son, Lewis, Herkimer, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Fulton, and Saratoga, (where the prohibition is taken off only in October,) and in Kings, Queens, and Suffolk, where November is the only month for their pursuit. The fine in the last-mentioned counties is twenty-five dollars each. For fishing,. except with hook or line, in certain interior lakes, the fine is twenty-five dol lars. A similar penalty attaches to trespass in fishing, after public notice has been given. It is forbidden in Pennsylvania, under penalty of two dollars, to trap, kill, or shoot any blue-bird, swallow, martin, or other insectivorous bird, at any season of the year, and the same penalty attaches to the destruction of eggs or nest of any of the birds mentioned in law. A fine of five dollars is laid for killing rail or reed birds betweed June 1st and September 1st ; pheasant, between February 1st and August 1st; wood cock, between February 1st and July 4th; partridge,or rabbit, between February 1st and October 1st, and a similar penalty is incurred by buying these birds out of season to sell out of the State. Laws have tended to restrain men and boys to some extent, yet, it is to be regretted that there is room for great improvement, so far as insectivorous birds are concerned. The game laws of New Jersey bhpose a fine of five dollars each for killing any partridge, water fowl, grouse, quail, or rabbit, between January 1st and November 1st, or woodcock between January 1st and July 5th; to be recovered with cost of suit, and in default of payment imprison ment for sixty days may be adjudged. A pen alty of fifteen dollars is laid for placing decoys for geese, ducks or brant, at a distance of more than three rods from ice, marsh, meadow bank, or sand bar, or for hunting them with a light at night; and it is made unlawful to kill geese, ducks, or brant between April 15th and October 15th, in or about the waters of Barnegat bay, or Manasquon river. The fine is five dollars each for killing geese, ducks or brant, between April 1st and December 1st, at Cape May. A trespass, after having been once forbidden to enter lands, renders oue liable to a fine of three dollars. The Secretary of State believes these laws effective, though not very vigorously enforced. By the laws of Delaware it is unlawful for non-resi dents to catch or kill any wild goose, duck, or other wild fowl, under a penalty of not less than fifty and not more than one hundred dollars. Citizens do not rest under this prohibition. A warrant may be issued by a justice of the peace, upon affidavit that any person has violated this law, and the offender arrested, tried, and, upon conviction, fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars, and imprisoned until fine and costs are paid. By giving bonds in the sum of two hundred dollars, the arrested party can elect to be tried before the court of general sessions. Any boat, gun, or decoy, used in violation of this law, may be seized and confiscated, and the penalty for resisting an officer is fixed at one hundred dollars. Tbe law does not prohibit persons from killing game on their own premises, but it is unlawful for others to kill a partridge, pheasant, robin, or rabbit, between February 1st and October 15th, (in New castle county, between January 1st aud October 15th Owoodcock, between February 1st and July 1st. The penalty is one dollar for each bird killed. A person not a citizen of the State, gunning upon land not his own, without permission ot the owner, is liable to a fine of five dollars for each bird or other game. Some persons permit gunning upon their property; others exclude all hunters. The penalty of hunting or killing deer is two dollars. No general law for the preser vation of game or birds has been enacted in Maryland. Laws of a local character have been inade with a limited and partial jurisdiction. In Ohio the penalty is from two to ten dollars for killing, or attempting to injure or kill, at any season of the year, any sparrow, robin, bluebird, martin, thrush, mocking-bird, swallow, meadow lark, pewee, wren, cuckoo, indigo bird, nuthatch, .creeper, flicker, warbler or finch, oriole, redbird, .or catbird. The same penalty in each case is incurred by disturbing the nest of any of these birds; also for killing dove, wild rabbit, or hare, _yellow-hammer or flicker, between February 1st and September 15th. From five and to fifteen dol lars may be imposed for killing or hunting wild turkey, quail, ruffed grouse, prairie chicken, or wild deer between April 15th and Septeinber lat ; woodcock between February 1st and July 4th, and wood duck, teal, or other wild duck between May 1st and September 15th. Exposing for sale or having in possession', incurs the same penalties, and the costs of prosecution are in all cases to be paid by the offender. The Secretary of State says the law is effective through most portions of the State; that there are numerous prosecutions, and judges usually affix the extreme penalty. The penalty for killing small birds in Michigan is fixed at five dollars each, and for wild turkey, partridge, or ruffed grouse between February 1st and September 1st; for woodcock between March 1st and July 1st ; prairie chicken or wild duck, goose, or swan between February 1st and August 15th; for quail from Jammu 1st to October 1st. It is made unlawful to destroy nests or eggs. The fines go to the school library fund. Indians and inhabitants of the upper peninsula are exempt from the effect of these provisions. Illinois has no general bird law. In a portion of the counties it is made unlawful to hunt or kill deer, turkey, grouse, prairie hen, or quail, between January 15 and August 15th. A fine of five dollars is imposed in the State of Wisconsin for killing grouse or prairie chicken between December 1st and August 12th, or partridge, ruffed grouse, or quail between December 1st and the first Tuesday of September. An exception is made for the benefit of the Indians not civilized. Half the penalty goes to the pro secutor and half to the county. It is unlawful to kill or take woodcock in Iowa between the let of January and 1st of July; prairie hen or chicken between 1st of January and 1st of August, or quail, ruffed grouse, pheasant, or wild turkey, or deer, between the first day of January and 1st of September. In Minnesota the penalty is five dollars each for killing at any time a nightingale, whippoorwill, nighthawk, bluebird, finch, thrush, lark, linnet, sparrow, wren, martin, swallow, bob-o'-link, robin, turtle dove, catbird, or other birds; five dollars for each woodcock, from Jan uary 1st to July 4th; partridge or ruffed grouse between January 1st and September 1st ; ten dol lars for trespass in sporting; twenty-five dollars for killiug each deer, elk, or fawn, or having the akin of one in possession between January 1st and August 1st. A fine of five dollars is also imposed for each speckled trout taken, except in Lake Superior, Mississippi, Minnesota, St. Croix and Root rivers. In California there is no law for the preservation of the insectivorous or song birds Game is so abundant that not even the boys are disposed to kill them. The destruc tion of hawks, coyotes and other wild animals has caused a marked increase of small birds. In some sections quails have increased so as to prove 'destructive to farm crops. Wild geese, in some places, do great injury by feeding upon the young grain after it is sprouted. A game law exists which makes it unlawful to kill any quail part ridge, grouse or ducks, between March 15th and September 15th, except in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties. It is also unlawful to kill elk, deer, or antelopes from January 1st to July 1st. ..A. fine of twenty-five dollars is imposed for hav ing in possession or exposing for sale such game. Fines may be laid to the amount of five hundred dollars in a single case. A very stringent bird law exists in the District of Columbia. In 1863 the levy court of the county of Washington passed an ordinance for the protection of insectivorous birds, prohibiting the shooting or taking of such birds under a penalty of five dollars for each bird so killed, possession being held as prima facie evidence of killing. The law confiscates the gun of any person carrying or using such weapon on Sundays. Pheasants, partridges, woodcock, snipe, rail or reed birds and blackbirds, may be killed at certain seasons. Only hawks, crows and owls are unprotected. All other birds not here mentioned are protected at'all seasons, except the last fifteen days of the year. The rigid enforce ment of this strict law has peopled the woods 'and groves anew in the vicinity of Washington. In giving the laws relating to agriculture we have been obliged to generalize. If the farmer wishes to know specifically as to the latest law on any given subject he must consult his lawyer. We aim simply to give the original laws, those having been amended from time to tirne. The compiler of these laws says in relation to them. The laws of the several States indicate a transi tion period between pioneer life, with its inevitable dog companionship, and a state of permanent settlement and superior civilization. The silly prejudice that allows dogs to trespass' upon a neighbor's grounds and destroy his sheep, while enacting laws to restrain sheep from wandering from their owner's pasture, is rapidly giving way to a common sense that would make restraint equal and just. In most of the States are certain provisions of a just law upon the subject, but a lack of completeness, or wain of penalty attached to neglect in enforcement, render them partly inoperative, or wholly inefficient. In Pennsylvania there is, practically, only a threat held over the heads of the dogs, for which they seern to care very little; iu Maine, each separate township has the option to ratify or nullify the general law—a non-comnnittalism that is far worse than no law ; in Ohio, dogs are instructed that it is unlawful for them to ruu at large at night, but their owners are held to uo proper responsibility for their effective restraint; and in most other States some radical defect exists. Massachusetts has the best law. It taxet. dogs frorn two to five dollars each; owners are made responsible, under heavy penalty, for their registry and taxation ; assessors must make accurate lists, and evasions of the listing are heavily fined; refusal or neglect of officers to execute the law incurs a penalty of one hundred dollars; and untaxed dogs are killed without mercy, and district attorneys are required to prosecute officers who neglect to destroy them. Such a law, or one more guarded and efficient still, should be on the statute book of every State. In Maine a law taxing persons owning or har boring dogs one dollar for each dog was enacted in 1862 with a saving clause as follows • Pro vided, that towns or cities shall so vote. By its provisions dogs inflicting damage subject their owners to fines of double the amount of the damage done, to be recovered by an action of trespass. Any person may lawfully kill a dog that assaults himself or other person while walk ing or riding peaceably, or is found worrying, wounding, or killing any domestic animal. Any person finding a dog strolling out of the enclo sure of his owner may, within forty-eight hours, make oath before a magistrate that he suspects such dog to be dangerous or mischievous, and notify --the owner by giving him a copy of the oath : and if the dog shall be found again at large, he may be lawfully killed; and if he shall there after wound a person or kill a domestic animal, the owner shall be liable'to treble damages and costs. In 1862 the legislature of New Hanip shire levied a tax of one dollar on male and two dollars on female dogs. Prior to this the com mon law was the only protection enjoyed by owners of flocks. In 1863 a law was enacted forfeiting double the amount of damage done by dogs, recoverable'from the owner by an action of debt ; or a complaint may be made to the select men of towns, who are required, upon proof made within thirty days, to draw an order upon the treasury, which is registered and made pay able, in whole or in part, from the fund accru ing from the dog tax, on the second Tuesday of March annually. The following is the law of 1862 for Vermont: In Rhode Island, by the law of 1860, a dog might be killed with impunity if found without a collar bearing his owner's initials, or worrying or wounding sheep or other stock out of the enclosure of his owner. Any person might make oath to any case of injury, or to the special ill fame of any particular whelp, and if the allega tion was sustained, the dog must be confined, or the life of the animal was forfeited. An addi tional law has just been passed, which requires dogs to be collared, registered, numbered, described, and licensed, with the payment of $1 15 for each male and $5.15 for each female dog, before the last day of April, and one dollar additional for each dog after that date, and previous to-the first of June. It provides for the appointment of suitable persons to make a list of the owners or kcepers of dogs, to be returned to the clerk previous to the first of May, who is required to furnish to such persons a list of all clop licensed for the current year, and to make another list of those not licensed, with the name' of the owner or keeper, to be suitably posted or advertised. Any one keepino. a dog contrary to these provisions is liable to afine of ten dollars; and persons appointed to make the lists are required to make complaint and prosecute delin quents prior to the first of July. Such persons aud constables and police officers are required to kill and bury all unlicensed dogs, and any per son may lawfully do so, and for such service the sum of one dollar shall be paid. Removal of a collar is punishable by fine not exceeding fifty dollars. Damages to sheep are recoverable upon proof made within thirty days from the town or city treasury on the first day of June, or a pro rata proportion of them if the tax fund is insuf ficient for payment in full; and the city or town may then recover from the owner of the dog doing the mischief. By the law of Connecticut for the protection of sheep—that of July, 1863— the tax upon male dogs is one dollar each, females two dollars. The selectmen are authorized to collect of negligent collectors the taxes unpaid, as in the case of other arrearages due from col lectors; and they are not empowered to abate such tax unless upon satisfactory proof that the dog. is dead. The selectmen are also empowered to institute suit against the owners of dogs for the amount of damage for sheep maimed or killed; and if the owner resides in another town, the suit may be brought against that town. The provisions of the former law, yet partially in force, require the registry of all dogs over three months old, and sanction the killing of all not registered, and persons neglecting or refusing to register are liable to a fine of three dollars each. Dogs of known bad character shall be killed, although registered; and it is lawful to kill any dog taken in the act of worrying sheep. The laws of New York upon this subject, as amended by that of 1862, impose a tax of fifty cents for the first dog, $2 for each additional; $3 for the first female dog, and $5 for each additional. The assessors are required to annex to the assess rnent roll the names of persons liable, and supervisors must return them, when, if failure in paying the tax occurs, it becomes the duty of the collector, and the privilege of any other man, to kill the dog. The collector has a commission of ten per cent. on fines, and one dollar for each dog killed. The previous enactment provided that the owner of dogs killing sheep should be liable for injuries perpetrated; and in case the owner should not be found, the loss should be paid out of the fund arising from the dog tax. By the laws of New Jersey dogs are taxed from fifty cents to one dollar each. Persons may lawfully kill a dog found worrying or wounding sheep : damages sustained by such depredations are col lectible from the township committee, if the fund arising from such tax is sufficient. If the owner of a dog committing depredations shall neglect for twenty-four hours after notification to kill the animal, he shall forfeit ten dollars and costs to any person suing, and triple damages to the owner of the stock injured or killed. A provision is made for the assessment of damages sustained, to be certified by tw o disinterested freeholders, the amount not to exceed rive dollars for each sheep or lamb killed. Some counties have had special enactments allowing full darn ages to be paid. By the provisions of a more recent act actual damages sustained by any per son are estimated by appraisenient by two disin terested freeholders, the oath of the owner being also required as to real cost and value, the town shi4 where the injury was committed paying the owner, and the amount annually ascertained being laid upon the owners of dogs as a dog tax. No effective law is in existence in Pennsylvania for the protection of sheep. The owner of a dog, knowing that he has worried or killed sheep, and failing to kill him after such knowledge, is liable for all damages done by him thereafter. A dog may destroy a flock of sheep, without danger to himself or loss to his master, until be has offended a second time. If he kills a second flock, and his owner conveniently ignores the fact of the former offense. be may await, with the wool yet in his teeth, for an opportunity to return again and kill. Delaware legislation, relative to protection of sheep, was initiated early in that State. A law of 1811 made the owners of dogs liable to the value of all sheep killed by them; that of 1820 forfeited the lives of dogs at large, witbout collars on their necks. By the law of 1811 the tax was from twenty-five to fifty cents for the support of the poor; by that of 1817 it was from fifty cents to $3 for a fund to pay for sheep killed by dogs; by that of 1839 from fifty cents to $1 for county purposes; by that of 1843 one dog was exempt, others $1 each for county purposes; by that of 1853 from $1 to $2 for a fund to pay for sheep killed by dogs. These are repealed, their prin cipal provisions being incorporated in the fol lowing laws: The owner or possessor of a dog which shall kill, wound, or worry a sheep, or lamb, shall be liable to pay the owner of such sheep, or lamb, the full value thereof, and it shall be lawful for any person to kill such dog.

It shall be lawful for any person to kill any dog running at large in Newcastle county, beyond the owner's premises, without a collar upon his neck with the owner's name upon it. The law of 1452 requires an assessment list, of persons owning dogs, to be returned to the levy court. The tax is placed at fifty cents for each male and $1 for each additional dog, and $2 for each female dog, which shall procure the fund from which damages shall be paid, not to exceed $3 for each lamb and $5 for each sheep injured or killed, the remainder, if any, to go into the school fund. A dog not on the assessment list, which may be wandering or caught vvorrying sheep, may be killed. Persons pa3 ing taxes upon dogs are deemed to have property therein, and may recover damages for theft of or injury to such dogs. In Maryland the owner of a dog proved guilty of killing or injuring sheep, is required, upon complaint and exhibition of proof, to kill such dog, in default of which the owner of the sheep may kill him off the premises of his owner, or require a constable to do so, wherever found. If the dog shall be killed immediately by his owner, the owner of the sheep injured can have no cause of action; if not thus killed, his owner is liable for double damages, with costs, recoverable by an action of debt. Seve ral laws have been enacted in Ohio to restrain doE,,s, none of which have been very stringent or effective, or generally executed. One was pasSed by the general assembly in 1863, declaring it unlawful for any dog to run at large off the premises of the owner in the night season, between the hours of seven o'clock in the evening and six o'clock in the morning, unleps accom panied by the person owning or harboring the animal; and the owner or keeper is required to keep the dog upon his premises between those hours. It is of so negative and incompleM a character as to be practically worthless. The only real protection of an Ohio flock is a well loaded gun in the hands of its owner. In Indi ana a license is required, at fifty cents for the first male dog, one dollar for each additional dog, and one dollar in every case for a female dog. All unlicensed dogs are declared nuisances that may lawfully be killed. Accruing funds are set apart for the payment of damages suffered from injuries to sheep in the several townships. The sufferer has his option of the following remedies: Within ten days after hav ing knowledge of such depredations, he may substantiate it to the satisfaction of the township trustee, and draw the amount at the end of the current year, or a pro rota proportion if the fund is deficient; or he inay recover by suit full damages from the owner of the dog. A fine of from five to fifty dollars and liability to dam ages, recoverable by the owner, are the penal ties for killing licensed dogs that maintain a fair canine character. The Secretary of the Board of Agriculture reports that the law is so defec tive that it virtually amounts to nothing. In Michigan a law approved March 29, 1850, authorizes the destruction of dogs attacking any kind of domestic animals, except on the premi ses of the owner of the dog, and such owner is liable for double the amount of damages done by the dog. When notified of such damage, neglect of the owner to kill the dog is punish able by a fine of $3, and $1.50 additional for every forty-eight hours thereafter, until such dog shall be killed. Supervisors, upon com plaint of a citizen, verified by his oath, are required to prosecute and recover the fines imposed by this act. An act was passed March 20, 1863, requiring township assessors to ascer tain the number of dogs liable to be taxed, and the names of their owners; and if such owners refuse for ten days after demand to pay the taxes assessed, it becomes lawful to kill the dogs so taxed. By the law of 1860, dogs in Wisconsin are required to be numbered, collared, regis tered and licensed on payment of one dollar for males and three dollars for females; and police officers, constables, and marshals are required to kill and bury all unregistered dogs, and to receive twenty-five cents for such service. A person may be fined fifty dollars for removing a collar. Persons suffering loss from dogs are paid full damages at the first of April, if the tax fund is sufficient; if not, pro rata; and the owner of the dog is liable to the town for the full amount. The fine for keeping unregistered dogs is five dollars. Officers neglecting, or refusing to obey the law, are fined $20 for every twenty-four hours of such neglect. Towns may increase the license not more than one dol lar, and the penalty not more than ten. The following is an epitome of the law of Minnesota, of March, 1863, which repeals previow: enact ments on the subject: Every owner or keeper of a dog shall cause such dog to be registered, numbered, described, and lief nscd, paying one dollar for each male and two dollars tor each female. The township or city clerk shall con spicuously post a list of all licensed dogs, and furnish one to constables and chief ot police. Failure to license shall make one liable to a pen alty of ten dollars. Stealing or poisoning a dog is punishable by fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and killing subjects to liability for damages double the value of the dog Constables and police officers shall and any person may, kill any unlicensed dog; any one may also kill a dog assaulting him, or worrying sheep out of the enclosure of his owner. Within thirty days after suffering injury or loss of sheep by dogs, proof of damages nnay be presented to the county auditor, who may draw an order upon the treas urer, payable from the fund accruing from taxes of dogs, when the city or town may sue and recover full damages from the owner of the dog. It is made the duty of the mayor and_ aldermen of cities, and the supervisors of towns, to require the destruction of unlicensed dogs, and officers refusing or neglecting to perform these duties are liable to a fine of twenty-five dollars for the benefit of schools. All of these penalties may be recovered, on complaint by any householder, before any justice of the peace of the county. Money remaining after the yearly payments from the tax fund is turned_ over to the school fund. A law was passed in 1862 by the Iowa legislature for the protection_ of sheep against the ravages of dogs. At the following session, called with reference to legis lation in the interest of the soldiers, the law was repealed. We have given considerable space to the summary of the dog laws, for the reason that they interest many—those who keep. animals subject to be worried, and those who. keep dogs. From these, communities will easily understand the laws necessary to be enacted ia the special cases that may occcur in each State. The laws concerning manures (commercial) are constantly varying in those States where the sale is an important industry. No commercial manures should be bought, except accompanied -with an analysis, and from parties of known business probity. (See Manures.) The fence and stock laws are contained in the article Fenc ing, which see. The laws in relation to Forestry by the general Government grants eighty or 160, acres to the settler who plants and cultivates a certain area in forest. Individual States have done something to encourage tree planting through the remission of taxes. Horticultural Societies and State Boards of Agriculture have offered premiums, and have discussed the bene fits of tree planting. Thus inducing the prose cution of this necessary and important work. So far as the laws of Congress are concerned the new settlers who have planted groves have been. illy able to incur the labor of tree planting, as necessary as this work is, for the land that from one to three hundred dollars would have bought. Speculators, first incited the laws that they might reap the benefits, in having groves adja cent to the lands which they were holding until the new settlers had made them valuable by demonstrating the adaptability of the soil to cultivation. These laws have been several times amended until now the settler acquires title to 160 acres of Government land if he shall plant and keep in cultivation ten acres of the same for five years. In relation to taxation for road pur poses in Iowa, it is as follows: The Board of Supervisors bas the general supervision of roads in the county, with power to establish or change them as provided by law. The town trustees levy a road tax eaeli year of uot less than one mill nor more than three on the dollar of the tax able property in each road district. A road supervisor is elected in each district, who has the supervision of the roads in his district, and it is his duty to keep these roads in as good repair as he can with the funds at his disposal; it is also his duty to require each able-bodied man between twenty-one and fifty years of age to perform two days' labor on the roads, between April and August of each year, himself or by proxy. There is great similarity in the systems of taxation, it being generally a poll tax in labor, varying in the different States from one day to five per annum; and in some portions of the country a money tax, varying from one mill to two cents on the one hundred dollars; and in others a tax for bridge purposes alone, as high as four cents on the one hundred dollars of taxable property. Owing to the abundance and excellence of material in some regions, and the scarcity and inferiority of it in others, there is a difference of at least tenfold in the cost of COC1 struction and maintenance of good roads. Good ones are the exceptions in all the States. In a majority of the States there are general stock laws prohibiting cattle and other stock from running at large; in some instances, however, authority is delegated to counties or towns to make by-laws upon the subject, or there is special legislation for particular counties or districts. The law of estrays differs in the various States in no essential particulars. If an animal is found running at large, in violation of law, it may he taken up and impounded, where public pounds have been provided; or it may be held by the person so taking up, on his own premises. If the owner is known, notice rnust be given him at once; if unknown, the animal must be advertised for a specified time; and no owner making claim, it must be sold to the highest bidder. The person taking up the estray is entitled to a reasonable compensation for maintaining the beast. In some States, after a certain time, the estray becomes the property of the person taking it up, the prescribed legal notice having been given. When an animal is found doing damage on the land of another, the fences being constructed according to law, it may be held as security for damages. In all cases where the owner is known, he must be totified of the facts, and a reasonable time allowed him to reclaim and to inspect damages. In the majority of the States, also, owners of stock are required to adopt certain ear marks, marks, or brands, and to make a record of them. A glance at some of the principal features of the laws relating to stock in the several States will show the importance attached to the subject, and may prove suggestive to communities where legislation is defective. In 1Vlaine and New Hampshire, towns may make by-laws concerning the running of animals at large. The laws of Maine proN ide that per-ons injured by beasts may sue for damages, and distrain the animal. New Hampshire allows the owner of stock impou, ded for doing damage, four days to regpond to notice of the fact; and if he fails to answer, the animals may be sold and the amount of the damage be deducted from the proceeds. In Vermont, twenty days are allowed for re demption. Ungelded animals are not allowed to run at large Rams must be restrained from August 1st, to December lst, and be marked with the initials of the owner's name; and if found at large, a forfeit of five dollars is due for each one taken up, to the person so taking up. The owner of such animals is responsible for all damage done by them. Sheep infected with foot-rot or scab, must be diligently restrained, and for all damages resulting from neglect of this provision the owner is responsible, and is also subject to a fine of ten dollars. Any person finding such diseased animals at large, may take them as forfeit, and no action at law, or in equity will he for their recovery. Any person who shall drive, or in any manner bring, into the State any neat cattle, knowing them, or any of them, to have the pleuro-pneumonia, or of hav ing been exposed to that disease, is liable to a forfeit of a sum not over five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment in a county jail for not more than twelve months, nor less than one month. Towns may establish regulations, appoint officers or agents, and raise and appropriate money for the purpose of preventing and arresting the spread of pleuro-pneumonia. The laws of Mas sachusetts provide that when a person is injured in his crops or other property by sheep, swine, horses, mules, or neat cattle, he may recover damages in an action of tort, against the owner of the beasts, or by distraining the beasts doing the damage; but if it be found that the beasts were lawfully on the adjoining lands, and escaped therefrom in consequence of the neglect of the person who suffered the damage to main tain his part of the division fence, the owner of the beasts shall not be liable for such damages. The selectmen of towns and the mayor and al dermen of cities, in case of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia or any other contagious disease among cattle, shall cause the infected animals or those exposed to infection to be se cured in some suitable place or places, and kept isolated, the expense of keeping to be paid, one fifth by city or town, and four-fifths by the State. They may prohibit the departure of cattle from any enclosure, or exclude them therefrom ; may make rules in writing to regulate or prohibit the passage of any neat cattle to, or through their respective cities or towns, or from place to place and arrest and detain them at the cost of the owners. They are authorized to brand infected animals or those exposed to infection, with ,the letter P on the rump. For selling an animal so branded, there is liability to fine not exceeding $500, or imprisonment not exceeding one year. Notice of any suspicion of the existence of eontagious disease must be given, with a pen alty for neglect or refusal. A board of com missioners is appointed for the State, with au thority to use any measure to control the intro duction of diseased cattle into the State, or the spread of the disease. The rules and regula tions made by this board supersede those of the selectmen of towns, and mayor and aldermen of cities. The moving of cattle into other States without permission is prohibited. The law of 1867 provides that uo cattle diseased, or suspected of being diseased, shall be killed, ex cept by order of the governor. The owners of cattle ordered to be killed are indemnified. In Rhode Island, animals trespassing on lands are held a year and a day ; and if a horse, must have a withe kept about his neck during that time. Each town is required to erect and maintain at its own charge one or more public pounds, and it is lawful for any freeholder or qualified elec tor or field driver, and it is made the duty of every surveyor of highways, to take up and impound any horse, neat cattle, sheep, or hogs found at large on any highway or common. Provisions of the act extend also to goats and geese. In 1860, in view of the dangerous disease which had become prevalent in other States, the gen eral assembly enacted that neat cattle might only be brought into the State from places west of the Connecticut river, upon thoroughfares leading into the western and the southern portions of the State, under regulations established by a board of commissioners, until they should prohibit importations from auy of said places. For a violation of the provisions of the act, a penalty was provided, not exceeding $300 for each of fense and liability to indictment, and, on con viction, imprisonment not exceeding one year. In case of the introduction of a number of dis eased cattle at the same time, the introduction of each animal is to be deemed a separate and dis tinct offense. Town councils are empowered to take all necessary measures to prevent the break iug out or spreading of any infectious diseases among the neat cattle in their respective towns, aud to prescribe penalties in money, not exceed ing $500. A board of commissioners is provi .cled for, to be appointed by the governor, con sisting of one person from each county, to see that the law is faithfully executed. It is made the especial duty of the board to endeavor to ob tain full information in relation to the diseases known as pleuro-pneumonia, and to publish and circulate the same, at their discretion ; and in case the disease should break out, or there should be a reasonable suspicion of its existence in any town, they are required to examine the several cases and publish the result of their examination, in order that the public may have correct infor mation. If satisfied of its existence in any town, they must give public notice of the fact in prin ted handbills, posted up ; and, thereafter, any incorporated company or person who may drive, carry, or transport any neat cattle out of the town into any other town in the State, is liable to the penalties above stated. Any person who sells or offers to sell any cattle known to be in fected with pleuro-pneumonia, or with any dis ease dangerous to public health, is liable to in dictment, and, on conviction, to punishment by fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment not exceeding two years. The act of March 26, 1864, provides that any person knowingly bringing into the State any neat cattle or other animals suffering from any infectious disease, .or who knowingly exposes such cattle or other -animal to other cattle and animals not infected with such disease, shall upon conviction, pay a fine of not less than $100, and not exceeding $500. The laws of Connecticut allow owners of sheep to keep flocks in common, and to make their own rules and regulations concerning their care and safety. No horses, asses, mules, neat cattle, sheep, swine, or geese are allowed to go at large in any highway or common, or to roam at large f or the purpose of being kept or pastured on the highway or commons, either with or without a keeper. Any person may seize and take into his custody and possession any animal which may be trespassing upon his premises, provided the animal enter from the highway, or through a fence belonging to the owner of the animal, or through a lawful fence belonging to any other person. He must give immediate notice to the owner if known, and may demand for every horse, mule, ass, ox, cow, or calf, twenty-five cents; and for every sheep, goat, goose, or swine, ten cents; together with just damages for injuries occasioned by such ani mals, if applied for within twenty-four hours after such notice shall have been given. If the owner is not known, the animal shall be sold by the town clerk, after due public notice. The cattle laws of New York allow any person to seize and take into his custody any animal which may be in any public highway, and opposite to land owned or occupied by him, or which may be trespassing upon his premises. Notice must be given to alustice of the peace, or a commissioner of highways of the town in which the seizure has been made, who shall post up notices in six pub lic places that the animal will be sold in not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days. The sur plus money, after payment of all charges is sub ject to the order of the owner for one year. The owner, before sale, may pay all charges and take the animal. If the animal has been trespassing by the willful act of another than the to effect that object, the owner is entitled to the animal upon making demand, after paying the compensation fixed by the justice or commis sioner, but no other costs ; and the person com mitting such willful act will be held liable to a penalty of twenty dollars. In New Jersey town committees, upon notice of the existence of any disease supposed to be contagious, are re quired personally to examine the cause, and if the symptoms which characterize contagious diseases are exhibited, shall cause such animals to be removed and kept separate and apart from other cattle and stock, five hundred feet distant from any highway, and the same distance from any and all neighbors. If any die of the disease, or are killed, they- must be buried immediately, five hundred feet distant etc., as above. No cattle that have been sick, and have recovered from any supposed contagious or infectious disease, shall mix with other cattle, or be removed, unless permission has been given by the town commit tee. Any person knowingly storing a hide, or any other portion of a diseased animal, is sub ject to a fine. The town committee are author ized to prohibit the importation or passage of cattle from other places into or through their respective towns. After notice of prohibition, owners are liable to a fine of $100 for every animal driven into a township. A fine of $100 is imposed for every animal sold and known to be diseased. The act of 1866 authorizes the Agricultural Society of the State to take measures for preventing the introduction or increase of rinderpest, and any other disease among cattle, at their discretion. And also animals affected with glanders are authorized to be killed. Cattle must not he marked by cropping both ears; nor must either ear be cropped more than one inch. The running of cattle at large is controlled in Pennsylvania by towns and counties, through special legislation. The sale of cattle or sheep affected with pleuro-pnemnonia, or any other contagious or infectious disease, is punished by a fine not exceeding $500, or imprisonment not exceeding six months. Animals must not be sold alive from, or slaughtered ou, premises where disease is known to exist, nor for a period of two months after disease shall have disap peared from the premises. Cattle and sheep are not allowed to run at large where any contagious disease prevails. Constables of townships are required to take up and confine any animals so found, until all costs are paid. In Delaware, by act of general assembly, cattle are forbidden to run at large in certain districts. Stallions over eighteen months old are not permitted to be at large. The laws of Maryland provide that any person aggrieved by trespass upon his premises of any cattle, hags, or sheep in the possession or care of a non-resident, may impound them, and have the damages sustained hy the trespass, valued on oath by two disinterested citizens of his county, and the animals may be sold for the damages and costs. The laws of Virginia pro vide that if any horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats enter into any grounds inclosed by a law ful fence, the owner or manager shall be liable to the owner of the ground for all damages; and for every succeeding trespass by such ani mals, the owner shall he liable for double dama ges; and, after having given at least five days' notice to the owner of the aniraals of the fact of tvvo previous trespasses, the aggrieved party shall be entitled to the animals if again found tres passing on the same lands. Horses diseased and unaltered, are not allowed to be at large. Every person shall so restrain his distempered cattle, or such as are under his care, that they may not go at large off the land to which they belong; and no person shall drive any distempered cattle into or through the State, or from one part of it to another, unle 3s it be to remove them from one piece of ground to another of the same ovvner; and when any such cattle die, the owner thereof, or person having them in charge, shall cause them to be buried (with their hides on) four feet deep. Arty justice, upon proof before him that any cattle are going at large, or are driven in or through his county or corporation, in violation of law, may direct the owner to impound them; and if he fail to do so, or suffer them to escape before obtaining a certificate that they may be removed with safety, they shall, by order of the justice, be killed and buried four feet deep, with their hides on, but so cut that no one may he tempted to dig them up. For the protection of sheep special laws have been passed taxing dogs in certain 'counties, and for their restraint in those counties. In North Carolina, if cattle are driven from one part of the State to another, they must be certified to be healthy, sound, and free from any infectious distemper; the granting of such certificate by- any justice, without affida vit, is a misdemeanor in office. Stallions and mules over two years old are not allowed to go at large, under a penalty of twenty dollars.