176 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAZAGINE 



# Photograph by George E- Hall 



"we are: all in style in the ozarks ; even the hogs wear standing collars" 



A type of wooden yoke used in Oklahoma and Arkansas to prevent pigs from rooting 

 their way under rail fences into pastures not intended for them. This kind of protection is 

 not needed where the pig is well cared for and provided with an ample fattening ration. 



kissed it, to the 

 spectators. 



delight of judges and 



coy oe six raises a champion pig 



One of the instances to which pig-club 

 advocates refer with special pride is the 

 experience of Jack Starr, of Midland, 

 Texas, who wanted to join a pig club, but 

 learned that he was too young for mem- 

 bership, being only six years old. Not 

 discouraged, however, he decided to fol- 

 low pig-club rules until such time as he 

 could join. He purchased a pure-bred 

 pig, the runt of the litter. When the pig 

 was 10 weeks old it weighed 29 pounds. 

 The pet was thereafter fed, according to 

 the pig-club agent's instructions, on a 

 properly balanced grain ration, and was 

 allowed to graze on Johnson grass, weeds, 

 and volunteer oats for green feed. 



Jack watched carefully for the appear- 

 ance of vermin, and the few lice on his 

 pet were easily removed with an applica- 



tion of grease and kerosene. A mineral 

 mixture of charcoal, wood ashes, salt, and 

 copperas was always kept in the pen. 



When the time came for Jack to exhibit 

 his pet at the county fair it was eleven 

 months old and weighed 450 pounds. 

 Not being eligible in the pig-club class, 

 the youthful exhibitor entered his pet in 

 five other classes, taking five blue ribbons 

 and winning $25 in cash, with which he 

 started his first bank account. In the 

 following November this prize animal 

 had a litter of nine pigs, five of which 

 were sold for $12.50 each, and the youth- 

 ful breeder is now well launched on his 

 announced career as a stock farmer. 



One of the duties of each pig-club 

 member is to write the story of his ex- 

 perience at the end of the season. The 

 narrative is usually told in simple phrase- 

 ology, reflecting the earnestness of the 

 member and his keen interest in all that 

 pertains to his pig. 



