Breeding sows last year numbered 1.22 per farm; in 1904, 1.47, 

 and this year 1.35 on an average. Losses in litters have been consider- 

 ably larger than usual. At weaning time the average number of pigs 

 was 7.9. This would indicate less pigs to be marketed during the 

 summer than in 1904, and probably about the same as last year. The 

 general tendency is to breed more sows, so that a gradual increase in 

 production may be looked for. 



Estimates as to the cost of feeding vary from $4 to $5.50 for sum- 

 mer, and from $4 to $7 for winter feeding. In winter, feeding is usu- 

 ally considered to cost about $1 a hundred more than in summer. The 

 average cost is: summer, $4.63; winter, $5.64. 



Middlesex. 



The breeds mostly used for breeding purposes, named in order of 

 their popularity, are : Yorkshires, Berkshires, Tamworths and Chester 

 Whites. Tamworths and Chester Whites appear to be decreasing, and 

 their places are being taken by Berkshires and Yorkshires. Very few 

 grade boars are referred to. Many pure-bred sows are used for cross- 

 ing with males of other breeds, the claim being made that the cross- 

 bred is an easier feeder than the pure-bred. 



The views generally expressed by correspondents regarding the 

 present condition of the hog industry are very well summed up by one 

 writer, who says: "The farmers are all trying to get into hogs as fast 

 as possible. A great many sold their sows eighteen months ago and 

 are now sorry they did not keep them." The breeding sows now on 

 hand are about the same as last year and less than in 1904, the number 

 for this year being 1.6. The average size of litters at weaning is 8.3 

 pigs, and there have been about the usual losses in young ones. 



Deliveries between now and September are going to be rather 

 lighter than those usually made during the summer, but an improve- 

 ment is to be looked for during the autumn. Should the good prices 

 be maintained this county is likely to largely increase its production 

 of hogs during the next year. 



The figures given as the cost of producing hogs appear to be indi- 

 vidual opinions rather than the results of actual experiments. With 

 summer feeding the cost of one hundred pounds varies from $3 to $6» 

 and with winter feeding from $4 to $9. The average of the figures 

 given by all the correspondents are: summer feeding, $4.57; winter 

 feeding, $5.54, per hundred pounds. 



Oxford. 



The returns show that farmers are far from having one opinion as 

 to the best breed of hogs. A few extracts will show how different some 

 men's views are: "The tendency has been almost universal to eliminate 

 all breeds except the Yorkshire. The type sought after is the bacon 

 type as approved by the packers." "A few years ago Yorkshires were 

 the proper thing, but the bulk of farmers think they have found out 



