236 RURAL NEW YORK 



SWINE (See Figs. 30, 31) 



There has been much less fluctuation in the number 

 of swine kept in the State than in sheep. In 1850 

 there was one swine for every 3.5 sheep ; in 1910 there 

 was one for each 1.4 sheep. There has been a marked 

 decline in the number of swine as shown by the fol- 

 lowing table, which gives the numbers by census 

 periods from 1850 forward : 



Table X. Number of Swine from 1850 to 1917 



1850 1,018,252 1890 843,342 



1860 910,178 1900 670,639 



1870 518,251 1910 660,179 



1880 751,907 1917 435,908* 



• Fifty-six counties only reported. 



Of the total number in 1910, a little more than 

 half, or 55 per cent, were mature animals, while 

 for sheep the proportion of mature animals was 65 

 per cent. 



Hogs in New York are preeminently the scavenger 

 animals. As has been pointed out, they make gain 

 in weight more efficiently than any other type of live- 

 stock. The average distribution is one animal for 

 each three rural inhabitants, and ranged from one 

 for each 1.3 persons in Nassau and 1.4 persons in 

 Cayuga county to one for each 3.5 persons in Madi- 

 son and one for each 3.6 persons in Chenango County. 



Hogs are not kept in New York to consume crops 

 that could be sold for cash as is the custom in the 

 corn-belt. In Illinois, tliere is an average of eight- 



