18 MAINE STATE SOCIETY. 



Your committee think the swine, to a certain extent, a self-sus- 

 taining animal. In this State our great impediment to successful 

 agriculture, is the want of fertilizers to produce that quick and 

 vigorous growth necessary in our short seasons. The swine is pre- 

 eminent, from his nature and habits, for converting or manufactur- 

 ing substances which alone are worthless, or nearly so, into fertilizers 

 of the first order. 



In order to be self-sustaining, it is necessary to obtain the best 

 breed, or that form which will secure the most and best growth 

 from an equal amount of food supplied. And here we are met with 

 difficulties at the onset, for in the same breed, and even in the same 

 litter, there are diiSerences in qualities of thrift, and not unfre- 

 quently difference in form. 



Your committee submit the following description of a form which 

 seldom, if ever, fails to meet the expectations of the careful and 

 practical feeder : 



1. The swine should be short in the head, neck and less. 



2. Long and round in the body. 



3. Deep in the flank, and well spread in the stifle and hips. 



4. Broad and deep at the lungs. 



In breeding, if the female be deficient in one or more of these 

 points, a male should be sought that possesses in a very prominent 

 degree the point or points in which the female is deficient. 



All these marks are generally as prominent at four weeks old as 

 at mature age. 



Having obtained the animal of proper form, the swine should be 

 properly educated and well supplied with material for the manufac- 

 ture of fertilizers for the growing crops. 



However often fed, the swine should have a clean trough and be 

 taught to eat all that is given him at each time. 



For hours of sleep and rest they should always, in cool weather, 

 have a clean, dry and warm place of resort ; in warm weather they 

 should have a damp and cool place of retreat, or have water thrown 

 upon them. They should be freely supplied with muck, straw or 

 other material, and if enough be furnished they may be exj)ected 

 to make three cords each in eight months, worth on the farm five 

 dollars per cord. 



The three Chester County pigs belonging to Mr. Calvin Cham- 



