1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
3i9 
4 TALK ABOUT PIGS. 
The Size of Litters. 
How many of the average litter are con¬ 
sidered good enough to register? What 
proportion of the pigs do breeders usually 
reject? Do not the pigs from small litters 
usually make the best individuals? That 
seems to be the case in our experience, 
and we would like to know what others 
think of it. Some breeders say they would 
not breed a sow that had small litters, 
but we have found such pigs superior as 
they grew up. 
Sometimes one and sometimes two 
pigs from litter are not good enough to 
register. Average about 10 pigs per lit¬ 
ter. Undoubtedly small litters make the 
best individuals as a rule. 
J. D. VAN VALKENBURGII. 
Greene, N. Y. 
About two-thirds of the pigs are 
usually good enough to register. Pigs 
from the smaller litter usually prove 
the best individuals, hitters of 12 or 
14 are too many; eight or 10 are better. 
1 prefer to save a sow pig for breeder 
from a litter of seven or more; eight or 
nine is a very good-sized litter. 
Vermont. c. c. paine. 
It depends greatly on the dam and 
sire, number in litter and many other 
conditions. Sometimes, if the litter is 
not too large, 100 per cent is fit tor 
breeding purposes, but very rarely; 
usually from 10 to 80 per cent. Breeders 
do not raise near as many as they ought 
to. Both for breeders and tor the eco¬ 
nomical production of pork I would 
rather have five (jood pigs than 12 poor 
ones. C. K. RECORD. 
Peterboro, N. Y. 
The number of pigs that are good 
enough to retain for breeders varies 
very much, as some sows breed better 
than others. I have certain sows that 
will produce 85 per cent show pigs, and 
others, in some breeders’ herds, would 
only farrow 45 per cent gooa enough 
to retain for breeders. I think that the 
litters do not necessarily have to be 
small to raise the choicest pigs; how¬ 
ever, it is seldom that a litter of more 
than six pigs contains pigs of excep¬ 
tional size and development for their 
age. I like my sows to farrow litters 
that will average eight pigs, however, 
and they usually do. d. r. perry. 
Columbus, Ind. 
The golden rule is our motto. About 
one-half of the average litter is gener¬ 
ally not good enough to register, though 
some breeders do not cull so heavily. 
We reject all that are not strictly first- 
class, and good enough to register and 
send the culls to the butcher. The pigs 
from small litters sometimes make the 
best individuals, but the feeder is to 
blame for that. If the male is vigorous 
and the sow properly fed from the time 
she is bred until she farrows the pigs 
will not be inferior when farrowed. If 
the pigs are inferior when farrowed the 
feeder is directly or indirectly to blame. 
If we thought small litters developed 
into the best hogs we would henceforth 
argue in favor of small litters. The best 
pig in the litter at one month old does 
not always make the best hog; some¬ 
times a pig that is slow to develop the 
good points retains them best when 
fully grown. g. a. foote tC- son. 
Irvington, Ky. 
Holding a Switching Tail. 
Fig. 125 represents a device that I 
have found to be particularly useful in 
the cow stable at milking time to pre¬ 
vent a bothersome cow from annoying 
a milker. The whole device, as figured, 
comes very near to showing just what 
it is without description. If desired, it 
can be made entirely out of rope, but as 
the reader will observe, a small piece 
of chain is used to connect the two ends 
of the rope. I rather like the addition 
of the chain, because it gives a little 
weight that aids much in holding the 
rope in place. There is also an advan¬ 
tage in fastening one end of the chain 
securely to the rope, while the other 
passes through the loop in the rope end. 
and doubles back. This makes it very 
easy to lengthen or shorten the circle 
without much trouble. As will be seen, 
the rope is thrown over the hook points, 
and hangs down just above the udder, 
holding the tail in between the legs. 
Once in a while a cow will get the tail 
out of the device, but it is comparative¬ 
ly infrequent. I have used this rope 
quite often on a cow at my back, to pre¬ 
vent her swinging the tail into my face 
while milking the next cow to her. A 
nervous cow v/ill frequently do this even 
in the Winter just to keep the milker 
located, something as a “feeler.” This 
can be used on a kicking cow very read¬ 
ily, and especially those that will be 
liable to kick if they find their tail is 
fastened. The probabilities are the cow 
will get the tail loose before she becomes 
so agitated as to kick. Every milker 
ought to have one or two of these de¬ 
vices in the stable, and once with them 
he will not be found without it. It is 
preferable that the rope be made of inch 
stuff, and rather a light-weight chain 
Size is a matter that depends entirely 
on the size of the cows. 
Shiawassee Co., Mich. c. p. Reynolds. 
MILK FARMERS AHEAD. 
The Scranton Dairy Comoany Set firs. 
The dairy company, after making con¬ 
tracts with the farmers for one year, 
claimed that the express company would 
not give them rates less than New York 
price, which is i’6 cents per can, but this 
proved to be untrue, for the railroad com¬ 
pany offered the farmers rates, as soon as 
they commenced to make butter, to both 
Scranton and Da Plume, where the dairy 
company’s condensery is located. On Jan¬ 
uary 1, 19 of the 82 farmers who furnished 
milk to the dairy company held a meeting; 
and decided to commence making butter 
in the new factory, which was built in the 
l''all, costing the farmers $4,000. This build¬ 
ing and machinery was rented to the Scran¬ 
ton Dairy Co. when they made contracts 
for the milk at $300 per year, but they gave 
up the lease when they quit taking the 
milk. On December 31 we hired an ex¬ 
perienced butter maker and put him at 
work, paying him $50 per month till April 
1. It was rather up-hill work for a spell, 
but we kept getting more milk, till now 
we have 75 cans per day. January and 
February our milk netted us two cents per 
quart. The dairy company did not pay 
for December milk on January 1, as they 
had agreed to, but about February 1 of¬ 
fered 70 cents on the dollar, and the report 
was that the company had sold out and 
gone out of business, which was true in 
part, as they had sold their retail business 
in Scranton and tried hard to sell the con¬ 
densery at La Plume but failed to do so 
About 60 farmers took what the company 
offered, or the 70 cents on the dollar, but 
the rest held out, and commenced suit 
against the company, and the first week in 
April the company paid them in full and 
interest from January 10 to date, also costs 
to amount of $91. Now, those who took the 
company’s offer are feeling sick. The size 
of the thing is that the company could not 
sell its condensed milk so as to get out 
whole, so tried to make its loss good by 
squeezing the farmer. The 30 per cent that 
the farmers lost amounted to about $800. 
Hop Bottom, Pa. e. p. b. 
Horse Owners Shotild Use 
QOMBAUIiT’S 
Caustic 
Balsam 
The Great French Veterinary Remedy. 
A SAFE, SPEEDY AND 
PDSITIVE CURE. 
Prepared 
exoluslTe- 
ly by J. E. 
Gombault 
ei-Veteri- 
nax-y Sur- 
geontothe 
French 
Govern- 
manc Stud 
SUPERSEDES ALL CAUTERY OF FIRING 
Impossible to produce any scar or blemish. The 
safest best Blister ever nsed. Takes the place 
of all liniment.s for mild or severe action. Removes 
all Bunches or Blemltihes from Horsea or Cattle. 
As a HUMAN REMEDY for Rheumatism, 
Sprains, Sore Throat, Etc., it iainvaluable. 
UfC ftllADAUTrC that one tableapoonful of 
nt UUAnANILC CAUSTIC BALSAM will 
produce more actual results than a whole bottle of 
any liniment or spavin cure mixture ever made. 
Every bottle of Caustic Balsam sold is Warran¬ 
ted to give satisfaction. Price S1.50 per bottle. Sold 
by druggists, or sent by express, charges paid, with full 
directions for its jise. Send for descriptive circulars, 
testimonials, etc,*'Address 
the LAWRENCE-WILLIAMS CO., Cleveland, Ohio 
I 
Like June Grass 
Quaker Dairy Feed 
makes flow and qual¬ 
ity of milk equal to 
June pastures. 
It is a scientific 
combination of grain 
to produce the largest 
flow of milk and to 
properly maintain the 
cow. 
It’s Economical. 
Sold only in Sealed and Branded 
Sacks. Each Sack stamped with 
analysis of contents, showing 
guaranteed per cent of Protein. 
If your dealer does not keep 
Quaker Dairy Feed send us his 
name and get a free copy of “Mod¬ 
ern Dairy Feeding.” 
THE AMERICAN CEREAL CO., 
13.39 Moiiatinock Bldg., Chicago. 
That It’s a 
SHARPLES 
Cream Separator 
guarantees superiorlty.to those 
who know, and others should 
write for catalogue No. 163 
Very valuable treatiee on “Surineet 
Dairying” free for the aeking. 
Sharpies Co. P. M. Sharpies, 
Chicago, Ills, West Cheatar, Pa. 
DE LAVAL 
CREAM SEPARATORS. 
The Do Laval Cream 
Separators have ever 
been the best of separators. 
They were the original and 
have led in every stage of 
development. The “Alpha” 
disc invention is restricted 
by patents to the De Laval 
machines only. The 20th 
Century improvements 
give them still greater ca¬ 
pacity and efficiency. They 
are as much superior to 
the best of other separa¬ 
tors as such mach nes are 
to setting methods. 
All sizes, styles and prices 
—$50.- to $800.- 
Send for new “20th Century” catalogue. 
THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR GO. 
Randolph & Canal Sts., I 74 Cortlandt Street 
CHICAGO. I NEW YORK. 
Aerated Milk 
and long 
make 
any man 
cause of Its purity aiu 
keeping qualities will 
and hold trade for an' 
who sella it. The 
CHAMPION 
Milk Cooler and 
Aerator 
HM/P prepares it In the best form. 
Takes out all odors, germs of 
L ^ f] U D decay.dlsease gernis.etc. Send 
for Booklet. “Milk and Its 
Care”—mailed free. 
■ RC - ^ CHAMPION MILK COOLER CO., 
Hiik Dealer.’ SappUeta $7 Squires St., Cortland, N. Y. 
Perfect Butter 
—the kind which brings the highest 
price in any market can only be made 
. from peri'ect milk. All bad odors 
{and flavors of animal, feed oi 
stable must be removed, 
THE PERFECTION 
Milk Cooler and Aerator 
will do it quickly, cheaply and pcrtectly. Made In vari¬ 
ous sizes from 1 to 200 cows Send for prices and catalogue of Fans 
anddairy supplies. L. R. Lewis, Mfr., Box 12 Cortland. N.Y. 
viuJiSt^o. & ana 
ijs;«.cowTiE 
3118 them firmly, draws 
em forward when lying 
iwn, pushes back when 
mding, gives freedom 
head, keeps them clean 
e. c. newton CO. 
SEPARATOR 
( OHIO Days’Trial. LIgfatast, 
aasiest running HAND Separator 
Mt Cream 
NATIONAL Separator 
Free book tella all about it. 
National Dairy Machine Co., Newark, N. J. 
LIGHTNING WELL MACHY 
THE STANDA_RD/ 
. ’ TLAMf UMPS. AIR LIFTSmI fi 
UINE ENGINES' 
FOR CIRCULAR l2EJ m ^ 
THL AMERICAN WELL WORKS -- 
'"TOR'A ILL - CHICAGO- DALLAS TFX 
The Improved United States Separator 
as it appears on the market to-day is the result of years 
of study and experiment. While we do not claim it 
is perfect, although many users say it is as near perfec¬ 
tion as possible, yet we do claim that it is unequalled 
l)y any other make on tlie market. This claim is 
l)ased upon its work at Experiment Stations and in 
Dairies and Creameries the country over, where it 
has demonstraUd many times that it 
Docs more exhaustive skimming, therefore Saves Cream; 
Has greater capacity according to price, therefore Saves Time: 
Requires less power to run and less time to clean, therefore Saves l.abor: 
Has greater simplicity and durability, therefore Saves Expense. 
In fact it has so many times proved in competition 
with other makes its overwhelming superiority as to 
make good its riglit to he known as 
The Standard Cream Separator of the World 
If you will follow the advice of its users you will 
investigate its merits before buying some other make 
said to be “just as good.” ^ Remember there are 
none such. 
We also sell a complete line of Dairy and Creatbiery Apparatus. 
Write for descriptive catalogues of what you are in need of. 
REPRESENTATIVES WANTED TO HANDLE OUR GOODS IN TERRITORY 
NOT ALREADY COVERED. 
VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO., Bellows Falls, Vt. 
