12 



Perth. 



The breed used most extensively is the Yorkshire, Berkshire next, 

 and then Tamworth. There are a few Chester Whites and a very few 

 Suffolks. There seems to be a tendency to use more Berkshires, either 

 as a cross or pure-bred, and a slight tendency towards Chester Whites. 

 Tamworths do not seem to be so popular as they were, although they 

 are used to quite an extent in crossing. The most popular cross is 

 between the Berkshires and Yorkshires. One correspondent states : 

 "There is a slight tendency with some to cross the Yorkshire with 

 the bacon type of Berkshire, the object being to get a hog of a fair 

 bacon type which will feed more easily." Another correspondent states : 

 "The weight was 160 to 180 pounds; the tendency now is to get them 

 over 200, to 250 pounds." Another report is: "Farmers are not so 

 particular about marketing the typical bacon hog, as they get just as 

 good prices for the thick fat." Another correspondent states: "There 

 is a tendency to change from the long, straight, deep-sided hog to 

 what is known as the more easily fatted hog." Still another correspon- 

 dent says: "Farmers now are breeding the bacon hog for the demand 

 of the packers, and they seem to be well satisfied." 



In almost all sections pure-bred sires are used. In some sections, 

 however, grade sires are used, but to a very limited extent. In some 

 localities there appears to be a tendency to increase the output, but in 

 most sections considerable caution appears to be used and the tendency 

 to increase is very slight. One correspondent says : "Farmers seem 

 rather dubious about increasing the output very much ; they feel that 

 once the output is sufficiently large to satisfy all packing houses, the 

 price will certainly go down. They are not going- into it in a whole- 

 sale way as some farmers did a few years ago." 



There is an increase in the number of sows kept this year over the 

 number in 1905, but they are still considerably less than in 1904. The 

 average litter is 7.9. The loss will not run any greater than usual. 

 The delivery up to the 1st of September will be less than 1905, Some 

 districts report an increase, but taking the county as a whole, the ship- 

 ments will be less. 



The average of the estimates of cost for summer feeding is about 

 $4.54 per cwt. , and for winter feeding about $5.09. The estimates for 

 summer feeding range from 2\ to 6 cents per lb., and for winter feed- 

 ing from 3^ to 8 cents. 



Huron. 



The question as to the popularity of the different breeds of hogs is 

 very well answered by a correspondent who says: "The Yorkshire is 

 decidedly the leading breed at present ; crosses of the Yorkshire and 

 Berkshire, and Yorkshire and Tamworth are, however, valued by some. 

 Pure-bred hogs of the above breeds and crosses have superseded the 

 old mongrel breeds so prevalent in days of yore. The change of late 



