458 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER XII. 



SWINE. 



WE discuss this class of stock last, but it is by no means 

 least. The pig is often treated with contempt on account 

 of its supposed filthy habits and diminutive size; but it 

 occupies a most important position in our agriculture. It 

 furnishes to the people a very large share of their flesh 

 food; and in a commercial point of view it rises into grand 

 proportions. We have been wont to glory over our export 

 of dairy products, especially of cheese, and now we have 

 -great reason for encouragement in regard to our beef 

 export, which may reasonably be expected to reach 

 $50,000,000 in a few years; but a comparison of our 

 exports of animal products for the fiscal year ending June 

 30, 1876, places the despised pig at the head. The prod- 

 ucts of the pig exported during that year were 



Bacon and hams, valued at $39,664,456 



Pork, 5,744,022 



Lard, " 22,429,485 



Lard oil, " 149.156 



Live hogs, " 670,042 



Total value of pig exports, 1876 $68,657,161 



Total, 1881 $105,790,779 



If we take the entire range of cattle products exported 

 during 1876, we find the following items : 



Beef, valued at $3,186,304 



Preserved meats, valued at 998,052 



Butter, " 1,109,496 



Cheese, " 12,270,083 



Tallow, " 6,734,378 



Hides and skins, " 2,905,921 



Leather, " 8,394,580 



Total cattle products exported, 1876 $35^598,814 



Cattle products, 1881 $68,711,300 



