374 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



iiKi.v prove vci-v (Icsirablo. <;ivin<j; tlicMii iiioit' bone and miisoJi; aud a ran- 

 gier type. 



ruder i)r{'st'iit conditions it: is ^«)(»d jiolicy for farmers to keep their 

 hojrs hrod np to a liij^li standard. Tliis is tlie only way to secure the 

 lai"^esi protits from the food tlicy consume. To ^ood ])reodin<; must be 

 added good feeding and a careful attention to hygiene. Michigan suffers 

 less from diseases so fatal to hogs than other states, which we attribute 

 to a greater Aariation in the food than in the corn states, and the 

 greater hardiness of the auiuuils themselves because not descended 

 from stock raised largely on corn. Variety of food, clean, comfortable 

 (juarters, a good range while growing, and pure water to drink, are all 

 conducive to health and freedom from disease. The introduction of 

 breeding stock from states where swine i)lague is more general, should 

 be done with caution, and if the precaution is taken to keep it apart from 

 the farm herd for a time it will frequently save both trouble and loss. 



So far as the outlook is concerned, the hog raiser has nothing in sight 

 to discourage him. His business im})roves with activity in trade, busi- 

 ness or war. The cured meat of the hog is the safest reliance where it 

 has to be transferred long distances and fed to men engaged in arduous 

 and exacting labor. Hence the lumberman, the miner, the soldier 

 and the sailor find it best suited for maintenance in health and vigor, 

 and it is used to equal advantage in the tropics or at the poles. So 

 long as it maintains its position in the food supply of the great commer- 

 cial nations, just so long must the business of jtroducing it be remunera- 

 tive. 



The price of live hogs has been well maintained the past year, and at 

 no time has it been so low as to be unremunerative. This will be seen 

 upon consulting the following summary of the average price ruling 

 during the past year in the Chicago market, the most important one in 

 the world in fixing values. The top price each week is given, and also 

 the average of all the sales for each w^eek: 



Week ending- 



August 12, 1899 



August 19, 1X99 



August 2(1, 1899 



September 2, 1899 . 

 September 9. 1H99 . 



September 16, 1899 . 

 September 23. 1h99 . 

 September 30, 1899 . 



October 7,1899 



October 14, 1899 



October 21. 1899.... 

 October 28, 1899.... 

 November 4, IStKt. 

 November 11,1899. 

 November 18, 1899. 



November 2.'>. 1899. 

 December 2, 1899. 

 December 9, ixmt. 

 December Ifi, l8f(9. 

 December 23, 1899. 



December 30, 1809. 

 January C>, 1900. . . 

 January 13, 1900. . . 

 January 20, 1900. . . 

 January 27, 1900... 

 February 3, 1900. . . 



Week ending- 



February 10, 1900. 

 February 17, 1900. 

 Fel)ruarv24, 1900. 

 March .3, 1900.... 

 March 10, 1900.... 



March 17, 1900. 

 March 24, 1900. 

 March 31. 1900. 

 April 7.1900... 

 April 14,1900... 



April 21. 1900. 

 April 28, 1900. 

 May 5, 1900... 

 May 12, 1900... 

 May 19, 1900. . . 



Mav26, 1900.. 

 .Tune 2,1900. 

 June 9,1900. 

 June 16,1900. 

 June 2.3,1900. 



.June 30, 1900... 

 July 7,1900... 

 July 14, 1900... 

 July 21, 1900... 

 .July 28, 1900... 

 August 4. 1900. 



Average 

 price. 



|;4 90 



4 90 

 4 85 

 4 80 



4 85 



5 OO 

 5 05 



5 30 



6 45 

 5 65 



5 60 

 5 50 

 5 30 

 5 25 

 5 35 



5 25 

 5 10 

 5 15 

 5 10 

 5 20 



5 25 

 5 30 

 5 35 

 5 20 

 5 30 

 5 30 



