POLAND-CHINA SWINE BREEDEKS. 289 



in the first place, I do not know whether we are or not. If we listen to 

 the talk which seems to go around wherever a number of breeders of 

 Polands get together, we would certainly think the Poland-China hog 

 was a big mistake; that as to size and bone it was a fraud; tuat it was 

 gradually falling off in size until in a few years we would have no hog. 

 I do not believe the Poland-Chinas are getting too small. I have found 

 that size is almost the easiest thing to get. The hardest hog to produce 

 is the best hog. I believe the hog that wins the ribbons in our show 

 rings is the best hog, is the standard, and j'ou all will agree with me as 

 a rule they are plenty large. The standard is the mariiet. The best hog 

 for the breeder is the best hog for the farmer, is the best hog for the 

 packer, and it is the type which wins under our judges. You often hear 

 it said that the small hog wins. I don't believe it. I can not see any 

 use for any more size than what I have seen in a large number of our 

 winning hogs, and I attend nearly all the large fairs of the country. The 

 champion barrow at St. Louis, pronounced to be as near a perfect hog as 

 the judge ever saw, considering the packer's tj-pe, weighed about 521 

 pounds, which in my judgment is plenty large enough, and represents the 

 best type for the breeder and farmer. 



Question — "What is the most successful treatment for canker sore 

 mouth in pigs?" 



Joe Cunningham: I do not have any trouble with sore mouths in 

 pigs. Never had but one litter so affected. I take the precaution to nip 

 off tlie large pig teeth, which prevents the pigs from biting each other 

 and getting the mouth sore. Do not know if these teeth are the cause, 

 but think it a good plan to remove tliem. 



W. W. McFadden: I have often heard this subject discussed. At a 

 late meeting of breeders I heard a doctor discuss it, and I feel that he was 

 practical and posted. He said there Avas no question but that the dis- 

 ease was contagious and that it came from a germ; that cleanliness, a 

 liberal use of disinfectants and careful observance of a41 sanitary rules 

 would protect the herd. After the disease started in a herd it was a very 

 difficult matter to stamp it out. 



Question — "Are the Poland-Chinas bred too fine to produce and rear 

 large litters?" '■ 



F. P. Modlin: As a rule the Poland-Chinas are plenty large enough 

 and capable to produce and rear large litters. As a rule they farrow 

 enougli pigs. Occasionally one fails, but nine out of ten sows raise good 

 litters. I consider a good litter from seven to nine pigs. If a sdw raises 

 seven good pigs, she is doing well enough for me. A sow that has ten 

 or twelve pigs has more or less runts and does not mature this number 

 MS well as the sow having a litter of seven. 



I'.t-Agri. 



