While the correspondents are unable to give definite figures to 

 substantiate their statements, it is claimed by some that £he Berkshires 

 and Duroc Jerseys can be fattened more cheaply than Tamworths or 

 Yorkshires, even one cent per pound less. The cost of summer pro- 

 duction is estimated at from as low as three cents to as much as six 

 cents per pound, while winter feeding- is placed all the way from four 

 cents to seven cents per pound. The summer average being $4.49 and 

 the winter average $5.41. 



Elgin. 



While Yorkshires, Tamworths and Berkshires have been produced 

 largely and in relative numbers in the order named, there is a tendency 

 to cross the first two named with the Berkshires. Considerable Chester 

 White and some Poland China blood has been introduced. While pure 

 bred sires are generally used there is a tendency on the part of a few 

 producers to give little consideration to the breeding or quality of the 

 sire. Many of the farmers are paying close attention to the individu- 

 ality of the stock used for breeding purposes, and are selecting the hogs 

 approaching the bacon type, no matter what the breed may be. 



The attitude of some of the producers is well shown in the fol- 

 lowing extracts : "Yes, changes are going on all the time, as some 

 think that some other breed is better than what they have, and then 

 they change for another kind." "About three or four years ago there 

 was great talk of bacon hogs and people went to extremes, crossing 

 Yorkshires and Tamworths — a result, poor feeders and slow maturers. " 

 "While there is a tendency to increase the output on the part of many 

 of the producers and the delivery will likely be somewhat larger than 

 last year, a number of the farmers have lost confidence in the stability 

 of the market and are making no effort to increase their output, or 

 even to keep up to the record of the past few years." "There is always 

 a tendency to increase any kind of stock when prices are high, but in 

 hogs we always look for a big drop in prices in the fall. ' ' 



The average number of breeding sows kept by each farmer is two 

 and a half, somewhat more than in 1905 and less than in 1904. Greater 

 numbers would be kept were it not for the very high prices and the 

 scarcity of supply. The number of pigs per litter to reach weaning 

 age is given as from 5 to 10, with an average of 7J, the smallness of 

 the number being due largely to the greater than usual mortality during 

 the first few weeks. The loss is much greater in the early spring 

 litters. 



While a few of the correspondents state that the delivery before 

 September 1st will be somewhat larger than in 1904 or 1905, the greater 

 number consider that the output will be considerably less, while a 

 limited number estimate it at about the same. 



None of the correspondents are able to give a statement of the 

 exact cost of production, and the estimates vary from $3.50 to $5.50 



