* Kent. 



In this county we find a mixture of a great many breeds, and a 

 number of the correspondents state that while there is a tendency on 

 the part of a few of the breeders to use sires of the bacon breeds, the 

 larger proportion of the producers are using Berkshire, Duroc Jersey 

 and Chester White sires, although we find Yorkshires and Tamworth 

 sows or crosses of them in as large numbers as of the other breeds 

 named. 



Quotations from a few correspondents will indicate the situation : — 



"There is a tendency to breed a thick fat hog. The only way to 

 get a bacon hog is to discriminate. The dollar is the best educator I 

 know of. As long as the farmer can get the same price for the thick 

 hog he is likely to raise the hog he can feed the easiest." 



'There is a tendency to change from Yorkshire and Tamworth to 

 Berkshire, Chester White and Duroc Jersey. Better feeders and better 

 results from the same amount of feed." 



"Farmers who have kept two or more sows and had pigs littered 

 at the same time and always fed together find the Yorkshires harder 

 feeders and fully a month later before they are ready for the market, 

 compared with Berkshires and Chesters. The Tamworth-Berkshire 

 cross is considered a good pig and a good feeder. A breeder here who 

 keeps and breeds Berkshires, Yorkshires, and Tamworths, stoutly main- 

 tains that the Yorkshire is by far the poorest hog. He has fed and bred 

 all three sorts for years under the same conditions." 



"In some quarters, preference is given the long bodied hogs in 

 preference to the short and thick type, but most people are satisfied 

 with fast growing hogs of any type." 



There are probably as many grade sires kept in this county as in 

 any other, but there is a tendency recently to use a greater number of 

 pure-bred sires. These sires are for the most part of the Berkshire, 

 Chester White and Duroc Jersey strains. In selecting these sires, there 

 is a tendency to choose those that more nearly approach the bacon con- 

 formation. 



There is a great variation in the statements as to the number of 

 breeding sows kept. There is a tendency on the part of the majority 

 of producers to increase their output, but on account of high prices and 

 the scarcity of hogs, and in some sections a fear that the hog cholera 

 may again break out, the production is considerably below what it other- 

 wise would be. The outlook for 1907, however, is very bright for a 

 largely increased output. 



The hogs to be marketed before September will be considerably, 

 less in the greater portion of the county, while in a few localities the 

 delivery will be larger than in the past two years. The average number 

 of pigs per litter is 7.22, and the loss among young pigs is not greater 

 than in former years. 



