CHAPTER I. 



PIG FIGURES. 



A great business this ,' millions in it, literally. Tim. 



A quarter of a century ago 

 there were about thirty million 

 hogs in the United States. At 

 the present time there are about 

 forty million pigs in this land 

 of corn. 



Iowa and Missouri each has 

 over three million hogs, with Iowa the banner state. 



The average value of the swine of the United 

 States, per head, is placed by the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture at $4.10. The highest valuations are 

 to be found in the New England and Middle states, 

 varying from $5.94 in Maine up to $9.29 in Connec- 

 ticut. Iowa is credited with an average price of $5.67 

 and with a total hog valuation (U. S. Yearbook, 1896) 

 of over $21, 000,000. This enormous total valuation 

 is well nigh double that of Missouri, the next com- 

 peting state, which is placed at something over $12,- 

 000,000, but with an average of only $3.99 per animal. 

 Ohio and Indiana have hog valuations of over $n,- 

 000,000 each. 



In American live stock interests cows and cattle 

 rank first in value, horses and mules second, hogs 

 third and sheep fourth. 



