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1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 235 



periments I wish to speak of, and I am done. This is the 

 effect of season upon the cost of production. The doctor 

 has carried out two experiments, alike in all other essentials, 

 but differing in the season. One experiment was carried 

 on from November 8 to March 12, and in this the net cost 

 of production of one pound of pork was 3.83 cents. The 

 other experiment extended from April 12 to August 8, and 

 in this the net cost of a pound of pork was 2.98 cents. 

 Here is a difference of .85 cents per pound in favor of sum- 

 mer feeding. In each of these experiments the total gain 

 of the six pigs amounted to about one thousand pounds. 

 The total advantage in favor of summer feeding amounted, 

 then, to $8.50 on the six pigs. This sum at present prices 

 would buy about a ton and a half of coal, and this amount 

 of coal would be sufficient to keep a well-constructed room, 

 fifteen feet square, at a comfortable living temperature all 

 winter. It would not require to be quite so warm for pigs ; 

 and it cannot be doubted that a pen sufficiently large for six 

 animals could be kept warm enough to keep them gaining 

 even ftister than in summer, — for there would be no flies nor 

 excessively hot days, — with a consumption of considerably 

 less than a ton and a half of coal. I suggest, therefore, that 

 the question whether to keep animals warm by burning coal 

 is not more profitable than to do it by giving an excess 

 of food, is at least worthy of experiment. But, whether 

 you warm your piggeries or not, you should at least draw 

 one or two lessons from this result. It will pay to fatten 

 animals in warm weather, rather than in winter; and it will 

 pay to feed them in well-constructed and warm buildings. 

 Warmth must not, however, be obtained at the expense of 

 ventilation and pure air. Disease will certainly follow over- 

 crowding in ill-ventilated pens. Warmth and pure air are 

 the essentials for health, rapid gains and profitable results. 



Mr. J. W. Stockwell of Sutton. Before taking up the 

 discussion of the subjects which have been so admirably pre- 

 sented to us in the addresses of the morning, I desire to intro- 

 duce, and move the adoption of, the following resolution : — 



Resolved, That the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, re- 

 affirming its resolutions of last year, does pledge itself anew to use 



