280 r.oAKi) oi' A(;i;i( ii/rruK. 



Wo should Jiot be too spariug in the use of our knife, as I think it is 

 more money in our pockets to sell on the market something- that is not 

 first-class than to send it out as a breeder, when it shows no credit to the 

 breed. 



Again, 1 believe more of the boys should be interested in the scoring 

 school, and it cannot help but be a benefit to all who attend. 



In the absence of a program, a "(luestion box" was instituted and llic 

 subjects taken up in order. 



Garrett Gibson, of the firm of Gibson & Son, read a paper, as fol- 

 lows, on "The Proper Age to Breed Young Sows": 



The object in breeding sows is to produce strong, healthy pigs, without 

 inuring the sow. If a sow is bred too young the pigs will be small and 

 weak, and the growth of the sow Avill be checked, thus making a loss to 

 the breeder at both ends of the string. A sow that is too young can not 

 complete her own growth and bring forth ;i litter of pigs at the same time. 

 At from nine to twelve months of age a sow is lieginning to mature, her 

 bones are formed, muscles developed. If bred at about this age. that is, 

 so as to have pigs at from twelve to fifteen months of age, she is able to 

 attend to her own growth and that of her pigs. Even at this .-igc a sow 

 must be well cared for to enable her to do hersell' and pigs justice. 



In discussion of this paper, F. F. Moore said: It is my intention to 

 have my sows farrow their pigs at about one year old. I agrei" with 

 Mr. Gibson that it is injurious to the sow and detrimental to the pigs in 

 a majority of cases to have a sow farrow und«'r one year. A sow that 

 passes over a year Avithout breeding may become ba iron. This is more 

 often the case th.it when hi'cd earlier. It is my opinion tliat the best 

 age to farrow the lirst litter is when the sow is :ilMiut twelve months old. 



Question — "What makes the best growers .ind Icedcrs. the prodUi-e 

 of young or m:itured sows".'" 



F. F. Moore: This (piestion is along the line of the paper read, being 

 a part which must necessarily be brought out in the di.scussion. My e.\- 

 perience would lead me to say that the best results come from matured 

 sows, yet I have had soiiic litters Iroiii young sows which li:ive been as 

 good and paid me as well as any litters from older sows. 1 feel, though, 

 that it is somewhat of a speculation and my system of breeding is to use 

 as much as possible matni-ed sows. The per cent, of good ones from these 

 sows is higher than where young sows -avc used, 'i'he matured sow sim- 

 ply has the development of her plus to attend to. whereas the young sow 

 must do double duty. 



A. .F. Foland: The (piestion is ;i i]oo]^ one and should receive the 

 careful study of those present. Wli.ii wc do Id us do well. If we only 



