408 FAEMERS' INSTITUTES. 



are placed in the car with the larger hogs they do not stand the journey well, 

 being often crowded to death on the way. But for the farmer that only 

 keeps a few hogs for his own use and wants a nice, blocky animal that will 

 be ready for slaughter most any time, I don't know of a better breed than 

 the Yorkshire. 



Poland Chinas. — For a market hog I know of no better breed than the 

 Poland China, for several reasons. First, he is a good seller in any market ; 

 I know of no hog that outsells him ; he always brings the top of the market. 

 No one pretends to find fault with form or feeding qualities of the Poland 

 China, except some of the breeders of small breeds. They sometimes set up 

 the claim that he is too large and too heavy a feeder. To the former charge 

 I would say, fatten them while young. And right here is where the Poland 

 has a great advantage ; he can be fattened at any age and does not stop grow- 

 ing when he commences to become fat, but will grow and fatten at the same 

 time. To the latter charge I would say, what of it? What if he is a heavy 

 eater? Does he not pay as well or better than other breeds for what he eats? 

 Does he not make as great a gain in flesh for the amount of feed consumed 

 as any other hog? If he does, why find fault about what he eats? It would 

 be Just as reasonable to find fault and refuse to sell your wheat to an exten- 

 sive wheat buyer or large flouring establishment because they took such large 

 quantities, though you are forced to acknowledge that the same parties paid 

 you the very highest market price for every bushel of grain that they bought 

 from you. I have been informed repeatedly by different shippers that the 

 Poland would bring in the Eastern markets from ten to twenty-five cents 

 more per hundred pounds than any other hog of the same weight and con- 

 dition. He combines early maturity, strong constitution, good size, and the 

 very best of feeding qualities. Do you ask for more than this from a pig? 

 If so, I do not know where to find it. 



SWINE AT FAIRS. 



It would seem, judging from general appearances, that pork raising was one 

 of ihe minor industries of our nation. Take for instance the position that 

 our Agricultural societies (the great educators) have assumed in this matter 

 and ascertain if they don't speak by their actions as plainly as they could by 

 words that the hog is of little or no account. We enter their fair grounds 

 and the first prominent object that the eye falls upon is a nice smoothly 

 graded and evenly curved race course. We glance around that track and 

 probably see a half dozen horses being exercised thereon preparatory to one 

 of Josh Billings " Agricultural boss trotts." At the tap of the bell the horses 

 are brought to the line, positions assigned, and after several ineffectual 

 attempts at a start they get the word and away they go. This performance 

 is repeated several times with varying results and a great event has been 

 decided, of which in many instances the outcome is that some old ringer has 

 been smuggled in and carried off the agricultural purse. 



We turn from the track to look for other features of the fair and find a long 

 row of horse stalls fitted out comfortably. The next best space is reserved for 

 cattle, and they also have been well looked after. The sheep pens come next 

 and are found in good shape, covered with good tight roofs and presenting a 

 tidy appearance. But, says one " What is that down yonder in those old 

 shabby pens with the fallen down roof that looks more like a few boards lean- 



