13 



years has been from hogs of which the Poland China may be considered 

 the type (too much fat and too little lean meat) to the Yorkshire suitable 

 for the English trade." The Berkshire is being used rather more for 

 crossing than formerly, and the Tamworth less. One correspondent's 

 explanation of this is : "The sole reason of the change is the refusal on 

 the part of drovers to pay according to quality ; most people think short, 

 thick hogs can be grown more cheaply than bacon hogs." Very lew 

 grade sires are used, and in many cases sows are also pure-bred, 

 although they may not be registered. 



Owing to the high price of grain many people do not consider the 

 hog business very profitable at the present time and are not inclined to 

 increase their production. Others, who have the grain, are feeding as 

 many as possible. Big increases may be looked for within the next 

 year if hogs continue to sell at good prices. An average of about 1.6 

 sows have been kept on each farm during the last three years. Litters 

 average 7.3 pigs, with losses slightly greater than usual. Some reasons 

 given for the increased losses are poor pens, pens with cement floors, 

 and the feeding of too much barley. There will likely be quite a falling- 

 off in the number of hogs to be marketed before September 1st. 



The average cost of summer feeding is $4.75, and winter feeding 

 $5.18. Those who quote the most economical gains grow their pigs 

 on clover pasture in summer and roots in winter. The quantity of 

 grain is increased towards the finishing period. There is a hope to 

 soon be able to grow peas again for hog food. 



Bruce. 



The breeding of the hogs appears to be confined largely to the 

 Yorkshires and their crosses with the Berkshires and Tarn worths. It 

 is said that at shipping stations most of the hogs show strongly their 

 Yorkshire blood and are of good bacon type. There is not much dis- 

 position to breed anything but hogs of the desirable type for the export 

 trade. The percentage of sires not pure-bred is very small. 



While farmers consider present prices all that could be desired, 

 yet there is no great rush to go into hog raising. Still the general 

 feeling is hopeful, young pigs and brood sows are selling at high prices, 

 but as one correspondent states: "It takes considerable time to increase 

 your output after you take the notion." Many farmers appear to look 

 on hog raising with suspicion, and are ready to quit as soon as there 

 is a drop in the price. The steadiness of the market will largely deter- 

 mine the amount of increase in production during the next year. There 

 seems to have been no increase during the last three years in the number 

 of sows kept. They average about 1.6 sows to each farm. At weaning 

 time the average is 7.6 pigs to the litter. Losses of young pigs have 

 been large. Returns indicate a smaller number of hogs to be marketed 

 this summer than during the same season in 1905 and 1904. 



