MARKING 41 



carries, and the date she was farrowed. The opposite side, as illus- 

 trated should show the sire and dam of the litter giving their herd 

 book numbers, and cut of the pigs head should show how the litter 

 was marked. You will note that this side of the card is ruled for 

 the purpose of entering on same the disposition of the pigs of the 

 litter ; the pigs that were sold as breeders as well as those for pork 

 should all be entered on this side, showing to whom sold and price ; 

 and where a portion of the litter was sold for pork, or butchered for 

 family use, they should also be entered. Those sold for breeders 

 should have their name and herd book numbers in proper column 

 as shown. We give one of these cards to the litter of each sow. If 

 she has two litters in one calendar year she has two cards to show 

 what her litters were in number and what disposition was made of 

 them. It would surprise many persons to see the footings of the 

 sales from a registered sow seven or eight years of age, that has 

 been a good producer once or twice each year. These cards should 

 be kept in a small cabinet drawer and each one numbered with the 

 number given to the sow, so that all cards for that sow may be of 

 the same number and in the same pocket. It takes but a moment's 

 time where this system is followed to open the drawer of the cabinet, 

 take all the cards belonging to a certain sow and add up what her 

 produce has brought you. I had occasion a short time since to 

 look over the cards of an old sow who was beginning to get along 

 in years, and added up what we had received for her direct produce 

 since she was old enough to breed, and found we had sold from 

 this individual sow over $3,500.00 worth of pigs, and none of them 

 at an extravagant price. It is much more convenient than having 

 to use a herd record, as the cards are all in one bunch and quickly 

 viewed. We have had many letters in the last few years asking us 

 to send a blank card showing this system, and all inquirers, so far 

 as I have heard, have put the system in practice and are well satis- 

 fied with it. A breeder cannot be too careful in keeping absolutely 

 correct records of dates of farrows and of pigs sold. 



