414 BOARD OF AGKICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



fresh, sanitary conditions necessary, not much loss will result. 

 If the sow cannot be moved to a perfectly clean pen, wash 

 the old quarters perfectly clean, and keep them so for a few 

 days. At any rate do not allow the young pigs to drink or 

 take any filthy matter into the stomach. Keep constantly 

 fresh sod and fresh coal ashes in such pens. Occasionally a 

 sow is too milky, and the young })igs get overfed ; but this 

 seems to do little harm in the long run. The best condition 

 that can possibly come to these young pigs is to get them 

 out in the open air and sunlight, and on the fresh ground- 

 It may be considered that unusual space has been given to 

 this portion of the suljject ; but if one can judge from the 

 frequency of complaints so far this season, this poor condi- 

 tion of the small pigs is a very serious one. 



Show Animals and Thoroughbreds. 



The finest pigs, in fact, the show animals, are raised dur- 

 ing the summer, giving them free access to as much variety 

 of range as |)ossible ; furnishing them with a trough by them- 

 selv^es, Av^here they can consume })lenty of milky swill ; and 

 every morning early treat them to six quarts of old corn to 

 every hundred pigs. Customers will not complain at the 

 price of these pigs, Avhatever that may be. 



The breeding of thorougli])reds is a business by itself, and 

 should not be undertaken by any one Avho cannot be strictly 

 honest in keeping his records straight, and who is not will- 

 ing to go outside for fresh stock every little while. It is 

 scientific work, and requires keen judgment to decide what 

 really constitutes a first-class animal. One nmst be an ex- 

 pert in order to mate u[) the Berkshires to get the most sat- 

 isfactory results. It has been some twenty-five years since 

 my own experience with the breed, and I am trul}^ sorry to 

 see so many coarse heads among some of the highest-priced 

 animals. The sul)ject of crossing breeds should iu)t be ig- 

 nored, because many a neighborhood is well stocked wilh 

 good ordinary hogs, which can produce very satisfactory and 

 paying results by simply introducing a thoroughbred l)oarof 

 hiirh individual excellence. The most sensible course to be 

 followed would be to use the stock as it is found in a neigh- 

 borhood, and gradually introduce a better foundation. 



