130 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



Lean meat is the muscular flesh of the carcass, the growth of which is 

 greatly encouraged by abundant exercise and food stuff rich in protein 

 and mineral matters, foods that are within the reach of all pork pro- 

 ducers, but of which so few avail themselves in sutficient quantities 

 to balance starchy corn in their feeding rations. Until our markets offer 

 gicater inducements for more lean meat, we are certain our pork pro- 

 ducers cannot profit by its production. But when they do, use of more 

 feeds rich in protein will bring about the desired results, and as delicious 

 meat will be produced from the Poland China in the corn belt as is pro- 

 duced with any breed in the agricultural world. As to the race suicide 

 of the Poland China to a great extent the breed has been unjustly ac- 

 cused by both rival breeds and by those wdio have overlooked the fact 

 that the Poland China sow is a great flesh carrier, and have failed to 

 guard against the over-production of flesh during pregnancy. An exclu- 

 sive corn diet during the winter months, especially, can result in nothing 

 1'Ut failure to produce large, healthy litters. With the successful pork- 

 laiser the diet of the brood sow is even more important before, than after 

 farrowing. No matter what the ])ree(l, prolificness can only be main- 

 lalned by intelligent mating and handling. It is also an hereditary char- 

 acteristic and can be iminessed on the breed through both sires and 

 dams having a lung lineage of prolific ancestors. Some breeds may 

 boast of a larger litter production, but for the production of the greatest 

 number of the most perfect specimens of the breed we can crown the 

 Poland China sow queen of the i)orking species; for the greatest profit 

 lies not in tlie greatest number of the species, but in the greatest number 

 of the most perfect specimens of the breed. 



To those who have mastered this, the most important brancii of 

 bog raising, the prolificness of the Poland China has not been the ([ues- 

 tion. Given the same conditions under which other breeds have proven 

 I'Vofilable, we Ix'lieve tlie Poland ( Itina with his t-arly maturity. |)repo- 

 tency and unirorm (.■xcellenct' will prove even more i)rofitable. 



151 IN' INC pi'ni(;Ri<.i':D s\vini«: on mail (tkdlr. 



(L. E. Frost. Moberly, Mo.) 



1 have no idea of even beginning to cover this to]MC. as it is one that 

 i? almost inexhaustible, but 1 trust some thoughts may be brought out 

 that will start a discussion which will i\>nll in good to us all. 



In bnxing pt'digri'eil swint' on mail order, we instinctively form a 

 j-ictnre in mu- minds of ihc' intruded purchase, and frequently are some- 



