IMroKTAXCJ-:, DISTKIBUTIUX, MAKKKTS, N'ALUES / 



Milwaukee, which have grown up to the west and north- 

 west, annually slaughter from two to ten times as many- 

 swine as are killed at Cincinnati. 



CHANGES IN SWINE, AND VARIATIONS IN VALUES 



Since about the year 1865 importation, crossing, selec- 

 tion, castration, feeding and careful study have wrought 

 wonderful clianges in the swine of America. Objection- 

 able characteristics have been bred out and fed out, weight 

 of undesirable or cheap parts lessened, that of the more 

 \ aluable parts augmented, and the tendency to early ma- 

 turity increased 30 to 50 per cent. The proportion of pure- 

 breds, or animals that, if used for breeding purposes, 

 would improve the quality of the general stock, is greater 

 by several hundred per cent; the proportion of improved 

 blood prevalent in the general stock is a thousand-fold 

 greater, and the spirit of further improvement has been, 

 and is abroad everywhere, l)ut to a much greater degree in 

 some sections of the country than in others. A striking 

 indication of the correctness of this latter statement is 

 disclosed in the values placed Ijy the presumably impartial 

 L'nited States Department of Agriculture on the swine 

 in the different states. For example, the report for Jan- 

 uary I, 1908. rates the hogs of Florida at $3.75 per head; 

 of Arkansas. $3.80; of Mississippi and Louisiana, $4.50; 

 Alabama and Kentucky, $4.60; and Tennessee, $4.65. 

 The same report gives the A-alue of Connecticut hogs 

 as $10.50 each; Massachusetts, $10.25; Rhode Island, 

 Xew Jersey, Montana and Nevada, $to; New York, 

 $8.90; Pennsylvania, v$7.8o: Tllinois, $6.60; Iowa. $6.50, 



