40d board of agriculture. 



It is said, on good authority, that the number of owners of thoroughbred animals 

 to-day, by comparision with eight or ten years ago, is as ten to one ; and to those who 

 have not carefully watched the growth in this particular, the results of a comparison 

 between 1874 and 1884 would be most surprising. Hardly a neigborhood but what 

 contains some specimens of improved stock, and in many one can not pass a single 

 farm of which the same may not be said. To-day, in Indiana, we have five hun- 

 dred recorded pure-bred swine, where six years ago there were not ten. Evidence 

 prevails everywhere that people are determined to test the value of blood in their 

 domestic animals. This means encouragement to breeders. The first relief from 

 financial depression will result in a large demand for breeding animals, and on a 

 liberal scale, resulting from the conviction in men's minds that by thus improving 

 their stock, they will be taking an important step towards the improvement of their 

 own interests. It is not too much to expect that the progress of the next decade 

 will be fully equal to, if it does not surpass, that of the last. 



While the ultimate end of all meat-producing animals is the meat barrel, there 

 are few of our farmers who have had an opportunity to compare the several breeds 

 of swine when well fattened and dressed, ready for consumption. Now. if our 

 State Board could be encouraged to hold a fat-stock show here in our midst, that 

 would be an important step in the right direction. I have faith that the swine 

 breeders of Indiana can make one of the finest exhibits of fat hogs ever held; the 

 show of swine at our annual State Fair is one of the finest in the world. I have 

 recently seen reported a paper, read at an Iowa stock meeting, expressing the view 

 that there should be but one great national fat-stock show. I must say I can not 

 agree with the speaker. A larger show might doubtless be secured in that way, 

 but I am sure that, in the aggregate, the good effects of four or five shows in 

 various parts of the country would be much greater. No reports, however fully 

 published, can equal in practical benefit a personal inspection and study of the ex- 

 hibits, and the further the reader is from the scene of the show the more slender 

 his interest. A show at Indianapolis would secure a much larger attendance of 

 farmers, from Indiana, Western Ohio, and even Eastern and Southern Illinois, 

 than the show at Chicago. I venture to say for the Indiana swine breeders, that 

 they are thoroughly enthusiastic, and enthusiasm, as has been well said, is the 

 locomotive that draws along the highway of progress the great ideas of civiliza- 

 tion. We are organized, gentlemen, and organized enthusiasm is simply irresist- 

 ible. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Thomas. Is the first 100 lbs. the cheapest meat made? Mr. Reveal thinks 

 it is ; I do not think it is if we count the expense of keeping the sow. 



Mr. Reveal. If he is going to count the expense of keeping the sow I am beat, 

 and will give that up. 



Mr. Williams. As to the cost of the first 100 lbs., I should look at it just this 

 way : For instance, we have a sow weighing 400 lbs. when she has pigs, say six in 

 number. By the time those pigs are Aveaned she has lost loO to 200 lbs. There is 

 that much loss to make up a gain on the pigs. If you get a pig at three months 

 old to weigh 80 to 90 lbs. you have good pigs. They are now through with the sow, 



