IMPROVING STOCK — HOGS. 445 



around the outside edge. Now finish up by nailing on the 

 posts corn crib boards, or common fencing. If intended for 

 hay or straw, nail the lower board eight inches from the floor ; 

 if for corn, six inches above. Tlie crib can be made any 

 desired length for the accommodation of the stock to be 

 cared for. 



IMPROVING STOCK. 



If farmers can not at once change their stock by selling 

 the common and buying thorough-breds, they should at least 

 breed from none but the pure blood males. The day is gone 

 by for making money from common cattle, in Iowa. The mar- 

 kets of the world demand better beef than they produce ; the 

 best selling fat steer, and the one that pays the best to the 

 breeder, is the two-year old grade or full-blood, that weighs 

 fourteen hundred to sixteen hundred pounds. These always 

 fetch the top of the market. 



HOGS. 



In connection with the herd of thorough-bred cattle, I 

 breed fine swine, such as Poland Chinas, Berkshires, and at 

 this time a few Durocks, or Jersey. These I sell mainly for 

 breeding purposes. All animals not sold as such are fed for 

 fat market. I sell usually from forty to sixty annually, that 

 are bred expressly for the market, and find from an experience 

 of over ten years that the most profitable is a cross of a Berk- 

 shire on the Poland China sow. 



I have been in the business of hog raising for twenty-five 

 years in Iowa. I have never lost a hog by what is called 

 " hog cholera." I am of the opinion that hogs that are 

 properly or sensibly bred and kept, are rarely attacked with 

 disease. It can not be expected, according to common sense, 

 •or in the nature of things, that a sow at or about one year old, 

 undeveloped as she is at that age, could possibly have as 

 strong and healthy pigs, or be as profitable a breeder as one 

 which has had one litter. 



YOUNG sows 

 should be first bred mainly to test them as breeders. When 



