20 HARRIS ON THE PIG. 



CHAPTER IV. 



DESIRABLE QUALITIES IN A PIG. 



As the domestic hog is kept solely for its flesh and fat, 

 the pig that will afford the greatest amount of meat and 

 lard of the best quality at the least cost, other things be- 

 ing equal, is the most profitable breed. 



It has been well said that Cincinnati owes its wealth to 

 the discovery of a method of putting 15 bushels of corn 

 into a three-bushel barrel, and transporting it to distant 

 markets. This has been accomplished by means of the 

 pig. He converts 7 bushels of corn into 100 Ibs. of pork. 



In accomplishing this result, the organ of first import- 

 ance is the stomach. It is here that the first change in 

 this wonderful process commences. In a flouring mill we 

 have a water-wheel or steam-engine which drives the 

 stones, and the machinery for removing the bran and oth- 

 er inferior products of the grain from the fine flour. The 

 capacity of the establishment is determined by the motive 

 power and the " run of stones." A pig is a mill for con- 

 verting corn into pork. The stomach is at once the 

 w;iter-vvheel or steam-engine, and the stones for grinding 

 the grain, and the motive power, which runs the mill 

 and the machinery, is derived from the consumption of corn. 



Now, if we furnish merely corn enough to run the ma- 

 chinery, and put no grain in the hopper, we lose not only 

 the use of the mill, but of all the grain used for fuel. 



If we should keep the mill supplied only half the time, 

 and yet keep the machinery running at full speed night 

 and day, (as we must needs do in the case of an animal) 

 would it be considered good management ? 



Let us see. Suppose it takes 75 Ibs. of corn to run the 

 machinery. If we furnish no more than this, we get noth- 

 ing in return. If we furnish 100 Ibs., (say 75 Ibs. for 

 fuel and 25 Ibs. for the hopper,) we may obtain, say 20 



