404 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



D. L. Thomas. I would like to know what the State Fair Association has done 

 regarding a show of hogs under twelve months old. 



Mr. Mitchell. This will come up before our February meeting of the State Board . 



Mr. Williams. I move that we recommend the premium list laid down by the 

 National Fair Association, with the exception that we have two classes under one 

 year old. 



1. N. Barker. I second that motion. 



Mr. Williams. A small breed of hogs will attain their growth earlier than 

 larger ones. It will be better to have one year old and over than one year old and 

 younger. Note the fact that there is but one class for boai-s and sows under one 

 year, which I regret very much. I would rather have two classes under one year 

 and one over a jear. The Ohio State Fair List says: Best boar under one year, 

 and also, best boar under six months — their list is divided into two classes. Swine 

 are very early maturing, and an eleven-months'-old pig should not show against 

 one four months old. 



T. M. Reveal. I quite agree with the gentleman last on the floor. Perhaps 80 

 per cent, of the hogs are farrowed in the spring, say in the month of April. That 

 gives a class under six months old at fair time in the fall. Not more than 20 per 

 cent, are fiirrowed in the fall. They would come in a class at the fair not quite 

 twelve months old. It is not just that those under six months should show against 

 those nearly twelve months old. Hogs get their growth quickly, and there^is much 

 difTerence between one that is six months old and one that is a little under twelve 

 months old. 



Mr. Barker. I agree with both tlic speakers. I am satisfied that 90 per cent, 

 of the breeders of swine would be in favor of two' premiums, one six months or 

 under, and one over six and under twelve months old. it is not right that a three 

 or four-months-old pig should compete against one that is eleven months old. The 

 St. Louis fair is regarded as one of the leading fairs in the country. There they 

 have a class over six months and under twelve months. I think if this was 

 adopted here it would be best. If it is not done one-half of the exhibitors will 

 drop out. 



Mr. Mitchell. Exhibitors will have the pigs dropped so they make them nearly 

 a year old at fair time. What the fair managers want to get at is a uniform sys- 

 tem. Then next year the pigs would be dropped in the spring, and at our State 

 Fair they come with these pigs in such vast numbers we would have to build more 

 pens. They are not show pigs, but they are brought there to sell. They help the 

 show, it is true, but we don't know how to accommodate them. After you get 

 used to it I think it will work nicely. 



Mr. Gilmore. That rule prevailed at Chicago last year, and it worked badly. 

 I think they will put the pig lisfin their premium list next year. 



Mr. Williams. This thing of showing pigs four months old against eleven 

 months' old hogs would be like showing a colt against a full grown horse. If we 

 show a pig one year old, we would have to have the fair in September. 



Mr. Dye. I am favorable to having two classes. It is not a fair show at all to 

 show a small pig against one that is eleven months old. 



The motion carried. 



