282 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



be proud of, and we should take delight in improving it. It is my opiniou 

 that more attention should be given to the feet, tlie bone and the liead. 



Mr. Bridges: I have had some experience with the breed, trying all 

 the different families. It strikes me that the most important work of 

 breeders is to keep blue and black flecks out of the skin and blaclv out 

 of the hair. It is very annoying to have a buyer tell you your hog is not 

 pure breed, judging from the color in the skin and hair. I have had 

 Chesters which were perfectly white and never threw any other color in 

 skin or hair. I have others not so good. I am anxious to get back to 

 the old reliable white kind. 



W. T. Farquhar: While I appreciate a pure skin and coat, I feel that 

 no other good quality of the Chester should be sacrificed to hold that 

 condition. We all understand how the several families have been crossed 

 and recrossed, until now it not infrequently happens that an extra good 

 and desirable hog will have a mottled skin, or produce that result. To 

 dispose of it perhaps would injure our herd or delay u's in bringing out 

 improvement along other and more important lines. For my part, I would 

 prefer to build up the back, ham and bone. They can stand improving. 

 Our Chesters have too heavy bone and are not as wide and even in back 

 as I would like them. 1 could stand a little more ham. I have noticed 

 in our show rings it often occurs that the Chester with a mottled skin 

 walks off with a lot of ribbons. The ribbon taker is the style hog I 

 want to breed to. 



Question — "Can a breeder successfully raise two litters a year?" 



S. Brooks: In my experience- I lind that one litter is almost as prof- 

 itable as two, far less work and easier on the sow. .\s a general rule I 

 would not practice raising two litters. 



E. E. Hicks: It depends on wliat you have to raise them from and 

 what arrangements you have for taking care of tliem. I consider two 

 litters Avill not hurt a matured sow, and believe in some cases it will 

 benefit them. I know tliat fall pigs come in just right the next year for 

 the selection of brood sows. They ai-e just at the proper age to breed for 

 strong pigs. 



.1. Weddle: I agree with Mr. Hicks. Fall pigs can be made profitable, 

 but it takes labor and money. It does not hurt a matured, strong sow to 

 raise two litters, nor does it decrease her value to go over and only pro- 

 duce a single litter yearly. The main consideration is, are we prepared 

 to grow these fall pigs at a profit. I am free to admit that I have never 

 been able to realize on them to any extent. 



Question — "Tfow do you manage your iml)lic sales lo ni.'ike them ;i 

 success?" 



