54 ON FATTENING CATTLE AND SWINE. 



FRANCIS DODGE'S STATEMENT. 



To the Committee on Fattening Cattle and Swine : * 



Gentlemen, — Believing it might be of some advantage to the 

 farmers of Essex County to know the actual cost of fattening swine, 

 I herewith submit an account of the cost and keeping of seven. 

 Thej were bought from a drove on the 21th of April, 1848. Their 

 whole weight at that time was 925 lbs., for which seven cents per lb. 

 "was paid. Their respective weights were as follows : 



No, 



925 2178 1253 1294 



The cost of food was as follows : 



68 bushels of Corn, at 53 cts., 



30 " damaged do., at 35 cts., 



50 " Corn, at 65 cts., 



8 " Meal at 65 cts.. 



Add cost of pigs, 



Total cost, $148 99 



We have then the cost of pigs, amounting to one hundred forty 

 eight dollars ninety-nine cents against 2178 lbs. of pork, at Ql cents- 

 perlb., (at which price it was sold) amounting to one hundred forty 

 one dollars, fifty-seven cents, leaving a balance against the pigs of 

 seven dollars and forty-two cents. These pigs were fed three times 

 a day on meal and water, and properly cared for in every respect ; 

 and in similar circumstances it is but fair to expect the same results, 

 and shall we from these results conclude that pork cannot be fat- 

 tened in Essex County without loss ? I think it cannot, when the 

 farmer purchases his pigs in the spring at a high price, and his corn 

 at any price, though it may be the lowest market price, looking en- 



