78 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



increasing production, with the organization of pig clubs as an inci- 

 dental means to this end. In the Southern States emphasis was 

 placed on pig-club organization as the major feature, with the appeal 

 for increased production as secondary. 



After consultation with Food Administration officials a call for an 

 increase of 15 per cent in the number of brood sows bred in the fall 

 of 1917 over those bred in 1916 was decided upon. This increase 

 was allotted to the different States, the allotments being based 

 largely on the prospects for the 1917 corn crop. The department's 

 program was given the greatest publicity and an organization in 

 each State was effected as rapidly as possible. The short time 

 between the passage of the appropriation act and the beginning of 

 the breeding season made some of these preparations difficult, but 

 the colleges met the situation and lent men from their staffs to aid 

 in the campaign. Conferences, farmers' institute meetings, and 

 other means of publicity were used. The response to the depart- 

 ment's appeal was given a great impetus by the announcement of 

 the Food Administration of its plans to make purchases from the 

 1918 pig crop on the basis of thirteen times the average value of the 

 corn fed for each 100 pounds of pork. 



The weather during March was favorable over the entire country, 

 and a much larger percentage of little pigs was saved than usual. 

 The Bureau of Crop Estimates reported 9^ per cent more brood sows 

 on April 1, 1918, than on the same date of the preceding year. The 

 soft corn crop caused farmers to feed out their hogs at very much 

 heavier weights than usual during the last winter. Considering all 

 these facts, there is every reason to believe that, although a few 

 States did not reach their allotments, the 15 per cent increase for the 

 entire country will be met. 



Pig clubs. 



During the year 25 specialists working in 18 States supervised 

 35,980 members in the boys' and girls' pig clubs, an increase of 66 

 per cent over the year before. The present enrollment is more than 

 80,000 in 28 States. Records for more than 12,000 pigs show an 

 average daily gain of 1.14 pounds and very satisfactory profits. 

 Seventy-one per cent of the reporting members raised pure-bred 

 pigs. Financial aid by bankers plays an important part in the 

 success of the pig-club work. In Mississippi more than S50,000 has 

 been lent to pig-club members. The increase in production of pork 

 due to club workers is evidenced by the fact that in several States 

 the club members are shipping their hogs to market in carload lots. 

 The pig clubs have been the forerunners of swine-breeders' organi- 

 zations, and in many States there are counties standardized to one 

 breed of hogs as a result of the introduction of that breed for pig- 

 club work. The specialists have advocated economical production 

 by the use of forage and pasture crops and the feeding of garbage 

 and table scraps. 



THE POULTRY CAMPAIGN. 



The poultry campaign was organized with greater deliberation than 

 the pork campaign, because it was not necessary to do much active 

 work before the first of January. Expert poultrymen obtained 



