1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
729 
THE WESTERN HOG CROP. 
How does the hog crop in your section compare 
with that of last year ? If smaller, what causes 
the decrease ? What breeds are mostly raised ? 
What special changes in hog breeding and feed¬ 
ing have taken place in your section for the last 
few years ? 
I find, probably, 20 to 30 per cent less hogs 
owing to cholera last year, and a poor crop of 
pigs this year. Poland-China is the principal 
breed. Some are changing to Chester Whites or 
Jerseys, and say that they will raise pigs better 
than Poland-Chinas. M. i>. 
Iowa. 
I think that there is a greater per cent of hogs 
raised this year than last. Everybody purchased 
ail the sows possible, therefore, raised lots of 
pigs because sows were cheap, and it was a good 
time to go into the business. I am afraid that 
they will be cheap the coming winter. Only two 
breeds of hogs are raised here, you might say— 
Berkshires and Poland-Chinas; the latter pre¬ 
dominate, and are getting to be all the go in the 
West. I have a cross between the two, and use a 
purebred Berkshire boar. The latter comes to 
maturity quicker than the Poland, and the light 
hog is the one that brings the top price. But the 
Poland makes a larger hog at the end of 12 
months, therefore, brings more money. Our main 
feed here is corn and clover or Blue grass. All 
cattle feeders have hogs to follow cattle; in that 
way, they do not require much corn, but fatten 
fast on hot mush. I presume that half of the 
hogs in this country are fed that way, for this is 
a great country for cattle feeding, especially 
through the winter. Those that raise pure breeds 
to sell for breeding stock, have special feeds, but 
that has nothing to do with the main crop of 
pork. One thing I have learned is not to keep a 
brood sow fat to farrow pigs, for the pigs will be 
poor and puny. I lost two sows last spring which 
would weigh 300 pounds apiece; one farrowed 
the pigs all right, but died with the milk fever. 
The other died before farrowing. c. a. d. 
Cass County, Mo. 
Taken as a whole, there is not much difference 
in the hog crop compared with last year. Some 
farmers have suffered loss of pigs from cholera, 
but that is confined to a few farms. Good atten¬ 
tion is paid to hog raising, from year to year. 
Prices, though sometimes low, average well in 
comparison with other stock. When losses occur, 
the herd is soon replaced. Poland-Chinas, Berk¬ 
shires and Chester Whites, with an occasional 
Jersey Red, are used by careful breeders in the 
order named. Most farmers still use crosses. 
The most popular of these is Poland-China boars 
on Berkshire sows. The Polands have been so 
long bred for the show ring, and so much stress 
has been put on their fattening qualities, that, as 
a rule, the sows are less prolific than formerly, 
aDd are much more liable to overlay their pigs. 
The Berkshires, not being so fat and soft, and 
much more active, make better mothers. There 
are more herds of pure, large Berkshires now 
than ever before, and the demand for breeding 
stock is not yet supplied. The thought seems to 
be that it is better to use Berkshires for mothers 
than to try to reorganize the Poland-Chinas. I 
don’t know how widespread this feeling is, but it 
certainly is on the increase in my immediate 
vicinity. Chester Whites have many friends, but 
most feeders want hogs that will mature sooner. 
The 500-pound hog has had his day. Most go to 
market now at 150 to 300 pounds. Those who give 
most attention to breeding are recognizing that 
less corn and more oats, wheat and shorts should 
be fed, but the majority of farmers still feed noth¬ 
ing but corn with pasture. The increase of clover 
growing gives better pasture than formerly, and 
the per cent of mortality has materially decreased 
within recent years. On the whole, hogs are 
better bred, better fed and better housed than 
ever before, and breeders and feeders are less 
disposed to complain about the results. 
Ridge Farm, Ill. j. m. h. 
The hog crop is somewhat smaller this year 
than last—one-third less. Some farmers lost 
nearly all their pigs at the time of farrowing; 
the cause, some think, was feeding the sows too 
much corn. I think that the extreme changes in 
the weather we had last spring had considerable 
to do with it. The Poland-China is the leading 
breed, and has been for a number of years; but 
it seems now not to be doing so well. I have 
neighbors that have been paying big prices for 
breeders, and are having very poor success with 
their pigs. A good many farmers are now cross¬ 
ing their Poland-Chinas with Chester Whites 
with good success; the first cross seems to give a 
better hog than the full bloods on either side. 
I have been raising the O. I. C. for the last six or 
eight years, and for a good, strong, healthy hog, 
I think that they are among the best. Farmers 
are giving hog raising more special care the past 
few years, taking better care of their sows at 
farrowing time, and they have better pens. The 
most of the hogs are fed with cattle; the large 
farmers nearly all feed steers, and have their 
hogs follow the steers. A good many hogs are 
raised and fed by farmers who are in the milk 
business. f. q. m. 
Polo, Ill. 
The hog crop this year, so far as I have noticed, 
is about the same as last, but lower in price. Buy¬ 
ers are paying only from 214 to 3 cents per pound. 
Chester Whites predominate in this section. No 
changes of any account have taken place here in 
regard to breeding and feeding of swine, h. j. e. 
Geauga County, O. 
As to the quantity of hogs, I think that there is 
a shortage of 20 to 30 per cent, owing, first, to so 
much loss from disease; still there was not so 
much sickness in 1895 as in 1894; second,.the price 
has been so low, especially the past year, that 
farmers have not taken the care to raise and save 
the young pigs. The present price is $2.50 per 
100 pounds. Poland-China is the prevailing breed 
—a few Chester Whites, or, rather, crosses. I 
don’t think that care isbeingtaken to breed pure, 
choice stock ; many think that the Poland-Chinas 
are being bred too fine, and are losing vitality, 
hence are the cause of so much disease, and have 
been using, what I call, neighborhood sires. I 
even tried it myself, to my own disadvantage, I 
am thinking. Hogs are fed much the same as for 
many years past, mainly corn and water to the 
fattening ones, with some ground barley, rye 
and mill feed for the sows and pigs. The better 
class of farmers feed on a floor, while the “ne’er- 
do-wells ” still feed in the mud. o. w. h. 
Iowa. 
The hog crop will be larger in this section, 
owing to summer prices ruling low. A great 
many hogs are on hand yet. The principal breeds 
are Berkshire and Poland-China. There are no 
special changes in breeding that I know of, but a 
great deal in feeding—more clover and small grain 
are being used, at a much less expense. This, we 
think, is the way to produce cheap pork. e. t. j. 
Boonville, Ind. 
Spring pigs are scarcer than a year ago; the 
severe March weather, in many instances, killed 
whole litters. But for this, there would be but 
little change. Poland-Chinas and Chester Whites 
are the breeds used. No change has been made 
in handling farm products here. When the aver¬ 
age farmer is questioned about a change, the 
stereotyped reply is, “ Well, it’s about like this, 
you see: I’ll let the other fellow try it, and if it 
work, then may be I will try it.” I usually find 
that the amount of try they work in, in the course 
of a year, is not noticeable. a. e. k. 
Carey, O. 
The hog crop of this part of Indiana is larger 
than it was last year, on account of last year’s 
abundant crop of corn, and its low price. Sev¬ 
eral different breeds of hogs are in use—Poland- 
China, Berkshire, Jersey Red and Chester White 
are the breeds chiefly in use, Poland-China rather 
predominating. One notable change in the feed¬ 
ing of hogs is, that now, probably, more than half 
of the hogs are fed and fattened during the spring 
and summer months, while a few years ago, they 
were mostly fattened during the fall and winter. 
One of my neighbors and his boys now feed and 
sell two car-loads each summer, and one car-load 
in winter, and say that it is no more trouble to 
feed two car-loads in summer than one in winter. 
These neighbors are making, by their industry 
and economy, quite a success at farming and 
stock raising. j. o. A. 
Washington, Ind. 
The hog crop of this section is not materially 
different from that of last year. Hogs have been 
healthy, and have had no disease to contend with. 
Poland-China, probably, predominates, although 
it cannot be said that we have any distinct 
breeds, but rather, an aimless mixture of several 
breeds, and a large percentage of common scrub 
stock. Our hog raisers have been slowly fwhen 
convenient) grading up a little in the last few 
years; but it has been in a hap-hazard way, 
without any particular aim in view. As to feed¬ 
ing, we have tried very little of anything except 
ear corn. Within the last two years, we have 
planted cow peas, and a number of farmers have 
turned hogs and cattle into the fields to do their 
own harvesting. This seems to be a cheap and 
convenient way to feed, and, also, seems to be 
quite successful. o. h. c. 
Cisne, Ill. 
Tne hog crop in this section is short—far below 
normal. The reduction came last year, and con¬ 
tinues in about the same condition this year as 
last. Farmers reduced their stock about one- 
third last fall, to meet the shortage, and are, there¬ 
fore, well prepared, with the increase of the acre¬ 
age of corn planted for fodder, which promises 
well, .and the better condition of the grain crop, 
to meet the exigencies of the case. There seems 
to be a general consent among the farmers that 
the silo is a good thing, butthe lack of funds with 
many, and of energy in others, and of skepticism 
in a few, prevent their materialization to any 
great extent, as but three have been built this 
year, within a radius of three miles, to my know¬ 
ledge. There are, at present, within this circle, 
nine or ten, all but one having been built within 
two or three years. c. l. a. 
Lewis County, N. Y. 
MARKETS. 
Saturday, October 24. 1898. 
BUTTER—NEW. 
Creamery, Western, extras .20 @— 
Western, firsts.18 @19 
Western, seconds.1554®17 
Western, thirds.1254®1354 
State, fanoy.19!^@20 
Common to prime.1254@19 
State dairy, half-firkin tubs, fancy.17 @18 
Firsts.15 @18 
Seoonds.13 @14 
Welsh tubs, fancy.17 @1714 
Welsh tubs, firsts.13 @18 
Welsh tubs, seoonds.13 @— 
Tubs, thirds.11 @12 
Western imitation oreamery, firsts.12 @1314 
Seconds.10 @11 
West am dairy, firsts.11 @12 
Seoonds.9 @10 
Thirds. 8 @814 
Factory, fancy.10 @1014 
Factory, firsts. 9 @ 914 
Factory, seconds.8 @814 
Factory, thirds. 7 @ 714 
Old butter. 5 @ 8 
CHEESE—NEW. 
State full cream, large, Sept., colored, fancy.10 @1014 
White, fancy.10 @1014 
Choice. 9%@ 974 
Good to prime. 9 @ 9*4 
Common to fair. 7 @814 
Small, colored, fancy. 1 C 54 @— 
Small, white, fancy.10 @1014 
Small, good to choice. 9 @ 9 : }( 
Small, common to fair. 7 @814 
Light skims, small, colored, choice. 8 @ 814 
Light skims, large, choice. 7H® 8 
Part skims, good to prime. 6 * 4 @ 694 
Part skims, oommon to fair. 354® 414 
Full skims. 3 @214 
EGGS 
Near-by,new laid,fancy, selected,per do* 22 @ 2S 
State, fresh gathered, average best. 20 @ — 
Penn., country marks, average best. 20@ — 
State and Penn., fair to good. 18!4@ 19 
Western, northerly sections, fancy. 19 @ — 
Western, fair to good. 17 @ 1814 
Western refrigerator, prime, early pkd. 16 @ 16 
Western refrigerator, fair to good. 1414@ 15 
Western limed, choice.. 15 @ — 
'Western, fair to good, per case.3 25 @4 00 
Western dirties, per 30-doz case.3 00 @3 4th 
Western checks, per 30-doz case.2 50 @3 30 
FRUITS—GREEN 
Apples. 20-Ounce, perbbl.1 1201 37 
Baldwin, per bbl.I 00@1 12 
Culvert, per bbl. 75@ 90 
Gravenstein, per bbl.1 50@1 75 
Fall Pippin, per bbl.1 1201 37 
Greening, per bbl. ..I 00@ 
Holland Pippin, per bbl.1 1201 37 
Ribston Pippin, per bbl. 75@ 90 
Oldenburg, per bbl.1 2501 75 
King, per bbl .1 25@1 50 
Detroit Red per bbl.1 25@1 37 
Fameuse, per bbl... .1 00@1 75 
N. Hpy, per bbl.I 00@1 25 
Pound Sweet, per bbl.1 2b@l 37 
Nearby, open heads and common, ner bbl 50@ 75 
Ctab, large, per bbl.1 C0@2 25 
Crab, small, per bbl.3 00@5 00 
Cranberries. Cape Cod, extra large, per bbl.5 00@5 50 
Fancy, per bbl.4 25@4 60 
Good to prime, per bbl.3 60@4 00 
Defective, per bbl.2 50@3 25 
Per crate.1 25@1 50 
Jersey, per crate .1 00@1 25 
Grapes. Up-River, black, per 2E-lb carrier.... 30@ 60 
Up-River, black, per small basket. 6® 7 
Up-River, black, per large basket. 10@ 11 
West'n N. Y.. Catawba, per small basket. 6@ 7 
West’n N. Y.. Concord, per large basket. 10@ 12 
West’n N. Y.. Delaware, per small bkt.. 10® 12 
West’n N. Y., Niagara, per small basket. 10@ 12 
West'n N. Y., Salem, per small basket.. 63 7 
Wine grapes, black in bulk, per lb. 1 @114 
Wine grapes, white, per lb.2 @2*4 
Wine grapes, red, per lb. 154 @ 1% 
Pears, Bartlett, per bbl..2 00@4 50 
Bartlett, per keg.1 00@2 25 
Bartlett, per box.1 C0@2 00 
Bose, per bbl.3 00® 4 00 
Clalrgeau, per bbl.2 50©3 60 
Duchess, per bbl.2 00@3 00 
Anjou, per bbl.2 50@3 50 
Seckel, per bbl.5 0036 00 
Seckel, per keg .2 00@3 00 
Sheldon per bbl.3 C0@3 50 
Swan’s Orange, per bbl. 2 25@3 00 
KeifTer, per bbl.? 00@3 00 
Nearby cooking, per bbl.1 75@2 25 
Quinces, choice bright, per bbl.2 25@2 50 
Fair to good, per bbl.1 00@2 00 
Seconds, per bbl. 50@ 75 
GAME. 
Quail, choice, large, per doz.2 0C@2 26 
Small, per doz.l 25@1 50 
Woodcock, average, per pair. 75@1 25 
Partridges, nearby, per pair. ..,. 80® 90 
Western, undrawn, prime, per pair. 70@ 80 
Western, drawn, prime, per pair. 60® 60 
Grouse. Western, prime. t>er pair. 90@1 CO 
Grouse and partridges, inferior, per pair ... 30@ 40 
English snipe, choice, per doz.1 7502 25 
Plover, golden, choice, per doz.1 75@2 25 
Blackbirds, per doz. 16@ 20 
Rabbits, per nair. 30@ 35 
Wild ducks, canvas, per pair.2 00@2 50 
Red heads, per pair.1 00® 1 75 
Mallards, per pair. 60@ 75 
Blue wing. teal, per pair. 40® — 
Teal, green wing, per pair. 25® 30 
Common, per pair. 20@ 25 
Venison, frozen, prime saddles, per lb. 23® 26 
GRAIN. 
Wheat.76 @80 
Bye.38 @44 
Barley feeding.23 @34 
Barley malting. 43 @50 
Buckwheat, silver. 38 @39 
Buckwheat, Japan.38 @39 
Corn.26 @33 
Oats.19>4@31 
MEATS—DRESSED. 
Veals, oonntry dressed, prime, per lb.... 9 @ — 
Fair to good, per lb. 8 @ 854 
Com. to med., per lb. 654® 754 
Small, per lb. 454® 3 
Buttermilks. 5 ~@ 6 
Grassers. 4 @ 5 
Pork, country dressed, 10 to 25 lbs., per lb 8 @ 10 
40 to 60 lbs., per lb . 654@ 7 
60 to b 0 lbs., per lb. 654@ 6 
80 to 120 lbs , per lb. 5 @ 554 
125 lbs and tip, per lb. 4 @ 5 
POTATOB 8 . 
Long Island, in bulk, per bbl. 1 25@1 50 
State, per 189 lbs..l 00@1 12 
Jersey, per sack.l 00@1 15 
Jersey, per bbl.l 00@1 25 
Sweets. Va., yellow, per bbl. 70@ 85 
Jersey, yellow, per d. h. bbl.1 P0@1 25 
Vineland, per bbl. 1 25@1 50 
POULTRY—LI VE. 
Spring chickens, per lb. 6 @ 7 
Fowls, looal, per lb. 7 @ 8 
Western, per lb. 7 @ 754 
Southwestern, per lb. 7 @ —' 
Southern, per lb. 7 @ — 
Roosters, old, per lb. 4 @ 454 
Turkeys, mixed, per lb. 7 @ 9 
Ducks, local, per pair. 65 @ 80 
Western, per pair. 60 @ 75 
Southern, per pair. 40 @ 60 
Geese, local, per pair. 1 25 @1 50 
Western, per pair. 112 @137 
Southern, per pair. 1 00 @1 12 
Pigeons, old, per pair. 20 @ — 
Young, per pair. 15 @ — 
DRESSED POULTRY. 
Turkeys, old, mixed weights, per lb. 10 @ 12 
Young, dry-picked, per lb. 10 @ 1254 
Young, scalded, per lb. 9 © 10 
Young, inferior, per lb . 5 © 8 
8 pring cmckens, Phil., selected, per lb... 13 @ 15 
Philadelphia, poor to good, per lb... 9 @ 12 
Western, dry-picked, good to choice. 8 @ 9 
Western, dry-picked, inferior. 5 @ 8 
Western, scalded, choice, large. 714@ 854 
Western, ordinary, per lb. 6 @ 7 
Fowls, Western, dry-picked, choice. 8 @ — 
Scalded, choice, per lb. 8 @ — 
Old cocks, per lb. 554® 6 
8 pring ducks, Eastern, per lb. 15 ® 1654 
Spring ducks, L. I., per lb. 15 @ 1554 
Spring ducks, Penn, and Va., per lb. 10 @ 13 
Spring ducks, Western, per lb. 10 @ 12 
Old ducks, Western, per lb. 7 @ 9 
Spring geese, Eastern, per lb. 14 @ 15 
Squabs, tame, white, per doz.1 75 @2 00 
Mixed lots, per doz. 1 25 @1 60 
Dark and poor, per doz.1 00 @1 25 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbage, L. I., per 100.2 00@2 50 
Red, per 100 . 3 oo @3 50 
Carrots, per bbl. 60@ 75 
Cauliflower, L. I. and Jersey, per bbl. 75@1 00 
Celery, fancy, large, per doz. 40@ — 
Average, prime, per doz. 20® 30 
Small, per doz. io@ 20 
Cucumbers, per 100. 2 00@3 50 
Egg plant, Jersey, per bbl. 5 (j@i 00 
Florida, per crate. 1 60@3 00 
Green corn, per 100. 60@1 50 
Lettuce, Boston, per doz. —@ — 
Local, per bbl. _ 
Lima beans. Hackensack potato, per bag...I 00@1 75 
Jersey fiat, per bag. £0® 75 
Onions, Eastern white, per bbl.2 60@3 60 
Eastern red, per bbl . 1 60@l 76 
Eastern yellow, per bbl. 1 25@1 50 
Orange County white, per bag .1 00@2 50 
Orange County yellow, per bag. 75@1 12 
Orange County, red, per bag. 75@1 50 
Jersey and Long Island yellow, per bbl..l 00@1 25 
Jersey and Long Island red. per bbl _ 1 25@1 37 
Jersey and Long Island white, per bbl...l 60@2 60 
State and Western yellow, per bbl.1 00@1 12 
State and Western red, per bbl. 1 26@1 37 
Pumpkins, per bbl. 40® 75 
Red peppers, perbbl. .1 (0@1 60 
Green peppers, Jersey, perbbl. 40® l 00 
Spinach, per bbl. —@ — 
Squash. Marrow, per bbl . 60® 75 
Hubbard, per bbl. 75 — 
String beans, Norfolk, per half bbl basket..1 0t©2 00 
Charleston, green, per busnel basket....1 (0@2 00 
Charlesion, wax. rer bushel basket.1 03©2 09 
Tomatoes, ripe, per box.. 25@ 50 
Green, per box. 15@ 25 
Turnips, Jersey and L. I. Russia, per bbl_ 50@ 70 
Canada, per bbl. 66® 70 
MILK AND CREAM. 
The total daily supply has been 20,142 cans of milk, 
164 cans of condensed milk and 357 cans of cream. 
The average price paid for the surplus on the plat¬ 
forms has been $1.25 a can of 40 quarts. 
No Safer or more Efficacious Remedy can be 
had for Coughs, or any trouble of the throat, than 
“ Brown'* Bronchial Troches."—Adv. 
YOUR POULTRY, PORK, CALVES, 
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ™ THB 
Old Reliable Commission House, 
(Established 1865) 
S.H.&E.H. FROST, 103 Park Place, to York 
Stencils, Shipping Cards, etc., furnished on appli¬ 
cation. References: Irving National Bank or any 
of the Commercial Agencies. 
GARNER & CO., 
Produce Commission Merchants, 
51 LITTLE 12th ST., NEW YORK. 
More room and a better location enable us to handle 
to better advantage, CHOICE CREAMERY BOTTER. 
CHOICE CHEESE, FANCY LEGHORN EGGS, 
Shipping Cards and Stencils on application. 
Reference: Gansevoort Bank. 
WM. H. COHEN & CO., 
Commission Merchants, 
229 and 231 Washington Street, New York. 
OUR SPECIALTIES: 
Game, 
| Poultry, 
Mushrooms, 
Furs, 
I Calves, 
Nuts, 
Ginseng, 
| Hothouse Lambs, | 
Live Quail. 
SOMERS, BROTHER & CO. 
PITTSBURGH, FA. 
Fruits and Produce 
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Send for our little book, “Suggestions to Shippers,” Market 
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Apples for England. 
Consignments solicited. Advances made. 
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LAWRENCE & CO., 
20 Fanouil Hall Market, - Boston, Mass. 
Representing only reliable, long-established and 
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