36 



with looseness of the bowels. This is a natural condition with all young 

 creatures, and, so far as I can see, does no harm unless the trouble finally 

 attects the physical condition of the young creature. The cause of this 

 unfavorable feature is easily noticed as due to a variety of causes The 

 presence of some foreign substance very unfavorably affects the delicate 

 mucous lining of the intestines, and the resultant inflamiuation appears 

 in the disagreeable looseness of the bowels. This condition causes more 

 or less fever, and the young things will be noticed sipping the filthy 

 liquid about the pen. Also they will root about the walls for any old, 

 filthy, dried-on material that they can find to swallow Fortunately, 

 this condition does not last very long ; and, if the surroundings can be 

 immediately changed to the 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 pigs 

 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 con- 

 sidered that unusual space has been given to this portion of the subject ; 

 but if one can judge from the frequency of complaints so far this season, 

 this poor condition of the small pigs is a very serious one 



Shoav Animals and Thoroughbreds. 



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

 mer, giving them free access to as much variety of range as possible ; 

 furnishing them with a trough by themselves, where they can consume 

 plenty 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, whatever that may be. 



The breeding of thoroughbreds is a business by itself, and should not 

 be undertaken by any one who cannot be strictly honest in keeping his 

 records straight, and who is not willing 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 must be an 

 expert in order to mate up the Berkshires to get the most satisfactory 

 results. It has been some twenty-five years since my own experience 

 with the breed, and I am truly sorry to see so many coarse heads among 

 some of the highest-priced animals. The subject of crossing breeds 

 should not be ignored, because many a neighborhood is well stocked 

 with good ordinary hogs, which can produce very satisfactory and pay- 

 ing results by simply introducing a thoroughbred boar of high individual 

 excellence. The most sensible course to be followed would be to use 

 the stock as it is found in a neighborhood, and gradually introduce a 

 better foimdation. 



Marketing. 



The question of marketing is an important one. Every neighborhood, 

 village aac). even large cities contain families who salt down their yearly 



