2 



Rearing and Fattening of Pigs. 



to render us independent of imported pork products, but there 

 appears to be little doubt that we might very largely increase 

 our home production of pork with much profit to ourselves 

 and a considerable manurial improvement to our farms. If this 

 last contention be, as 1 maintain it to be, a sound one, then it 

 behoves those of us who are dependent on the land for a liveli- 

 hood to seriously consider the best steps to take to free us from 

 that which must be considered a neglect of our opportunities and 

 of our duty. 



One of the first considerations of a manufacturer is the 

 quantity and quality of his raw material ; so must the pig-keeper, 

 whose object is to produce store pigs for sale or to manufacture 

 pork, carefully study his raw material in the shape of his stock 

 or breeding pigs. On this point again I fear that there is little 

 doubt that there is much room for improvement. Should any- 

 one be dubious as to this, let him pay a visit to the nearest pig 

 market or fair and carefully examine the pigs of all ages there 

 offered for sale. He will find many, if not a large proportion, of 

 the pigs which cannot have paid the producer, and which cannot 

 possibly be converted into meat of even average quality. The 

 particular deficiencies or failings of the pigs will vary greatly 

 according to the district in which the fair or market be held, but 

 in nearly all parts of the country the common pig will be found 

 to be lacking in early maturity and quality. Ill-formed, gaunt, 

 coarse-boned, badly-nourished store pigs, and boars and sows for 

 breeding purposes, will be found mixed up with a few pigs 

 which are evidently the produce of well-bred parents, and a good 

 many which have had much care bestowed on them after but 

 not before their birth. In no department on the farm does there 

 appear to have been less progress than in the breeding of pigs. 

 This may have arisen from the general neglect of the farm pig, 

 or it may be partially due to the far too frequent want of 

 success which has in times past attended the purchase and use 

 of so-called pedigree pigs bought at shows, or from successful 

 exhibitors whose object has been to gain money and fame 

 rather than to really improve the particular breed of pig which 

 they exhibit ; but, be the cause what it may, the results are not 

 creditable to those directly concerned or beneficial to the 

 consumer. 



