248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



One important question I have not touched upon, and 

 that is the comparative value of cooked and uncooked food 

 for pigs. I am well aware that on this subject there is a 

 great difference of opinion. I personally think localities 

 best determine this disputed point, and that you all will 

 agree with me that here in New England the majority of 

 our best farmers scald or cook their pig feed. 



During the past two or three years, especially, the whole 

 country has seriously felt the scourge of hog cholera, which 

 has swept off large numbers of pigs From recent reports 

 by Dr. F. S. Billings, received from the State Experiment 

 Station of Nebraska, I find that he hopes to prove shortly 

 that by inoculation this dread disease may be averted. If 

 this can be brought about, it will certainly be a great stride 

 in the advancement of veterinary science and demand public 

 recognition. 



In conclusion, let me add that I have purposely made this 

 paper short, and have endeavored to throw out assertions 

 enough to create a lively discussion, and am now ready, 

 gentlemen, to defend my position. 



The Chairman. Gentlemen, I think you will all agree 

 that although this paper is short, it is packed as full of meat 

 as any animal you ever saw ; and now there is opportunity 

 and time for discussion, which I expect will be fully im- 

 proved. At a fair in this town last fall, those who were 

 present and looked over the stock noticed some remarkably 

 fat and clean-looking pigs, and I will ask Dr. Charles G. 

 Allen to tell you how those pigs were raised, fed and cared 

 for, and anything else that he chooses to say about pigs will 

 be in order. I am glad to know that there is such a simi- 

 larity between the human race and pigs ; I did not know it 

 before. I see it is now demonstrated scientifically. 



Dr. Allen. This matter of raising pigs and pork is one 

 which interests me, and always has, very much. Unlike 

 most people, I have said that I liked my hogs much better 

 than my horse. I like to take care of them better than a 

 horse. I take better care of them, because I like tending 

 them better. There are a few things which are essential, in 

 my opinion, to success in raising pork. One of those things 



