568 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the farm, it developed that the reason why the system just outlined is not 

 followed is the ever-present danger from hog cholera. Because of occa- 

 sional losses from this disease the system which includes the production 

 of seed corn would, Mr. Rowe believes, in the long run prove to be more 

 profitable than the one in which hogs represent the sole source of income. 



CONCLUSION. 



There is much satisfaction in contemplating the methods and results 

 on this farm. The influence of the agricultural college is distinctly seen. 

 Sound judgment and good management are apparent. Presumably, every 

 farm in the United States, barring differences in soils, could be made as 

 profitable if all our farmers knew how to farm as well and had the 

 necessary executive ability. The object of this and other similar articles 

 is to aid in giving others a knowledge of the essential details of manage- 

 ment required for such success. Unfortunately executive ability can not 

 so easily be acquired; yet there are thousands of farmers who are today 

 running unprofitable farms who lack only the knowledge of how to farm 

 in order to succeed as this farmer has. 



The one ever-present element of danger in hog raising is the liability of 

 loss from cholera. The farm described has met such losses. During the 

 present year only 90 hogs were sold from each of the farms because the 

 numbers had recently been depleted by cholera. This disease is probably 

 carried from farm to farm by farmers themselves as often as in any other 

 manner. In a field or lot of sick hogs the soil becomes infested with the 

 germs. These are carried on men's shoes, on wagon tires and in other 

 similar ways from one farm to another. Strict quarantine will frequently 

 carry a herd of hogs safely through an epidemic of cholera, but there is 

 at present no satisfactory way of avoiding this disease. The farmer who 

 depends largely on hogs for his income must therefore be prepared to 

 meet occasional losses from this cause. 



FEEDING HOGS FOR PROFIT. 



Fred Vi'atson, Spencer, Iowa, Before Clay County Farmers' Institute. 



We must bear in mind the old adage, "There is no excellence without 

 great labor," and paying attention to the little details in hog raising, as in 

 every other work in life, constitutes the difference between successful and 

 unsuccessful hog raising. 



If we would feed hogs for profit we must have a profitable type of hogs 

 with which to begin. Taking it for granted then that we have got the 

 foundation stock of hogs or brood sows, having chosen the breed of hogs 

 that comes nearest to suiting our fancy, we must then procure a male 

 animal that is equally as good in the standard of excellence. If possible 

 select one that is good in points in which your brood sows are deficient. 

 Get one as gentle in disposition as possible. 



The male hog should have good breed characteristics, should have good 

 back, good feet, standing pretty well upon toes, good heart girth, indicat- 

 ing constitution and quality. Moreover he should be long and deep in 



