■  1306 
Tht  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
October  20,  1923 
constitute  a  committee  on  arrangements  to  conduct 
the  preliminary  contests,  to  determine  the  eligibles 
to  represent  each  district,  and  to  place  certification 
of  county  winners  in  the  hands  of  the  Commissioner 
of  Farms  and  Markets  by  a  certain  time,  this  year 
September  8.  The  parents’  part  is  to  furnish  as 
much  inspiration  to  the  pupils  and  teachers  as  pos¬ 
sible.  and  to  furnish  adequate  cliaperonage  for  chil¬ 
dren  sent  as  county  representatives  to  the  State 
Fair. 
AT  THE  FAIR. — Once  arrived  at  the  fair  the 
State  becomes  the  host  of  the  young  people  and  they 
are  given  the  time  of  their  lives  in  a  number  of 
worth-while  ways.  The  mere  cash  prizes  are  a 
small  part  of  what  each  boy  or  girl  gets  out  of  the 
event,  as  impressions  are  made  and  inspirations 
given  that  should  have  a  lifelong  benefit.  The 
amount  of  the  cash  prizes  has  been  increased  to 
$50  for  first  award,  $25  for  second,  $15  for  third, 
and  $10  for  fourth.  It  is  hoped  that  very  soon 
these  may  be  further  increased,  as  they  would  be  a 
mere  bagatelle  in  the  State  budget,  while  an  in¬ 
crease,  with  not  only  better  but  more  awards  given, 
so  that  a  larger  number  taking  part  shall  share  in 
the  rewards  for  effort  would  greatly  stimulate  the 
already  keen  interest  in  spelling  the  contest  has 
aroused. 
OARING  FOR  THE  YOUNG  FOLK'S.— Those  in¬ 
terested  in  the  conduct  of  the  rbee”  were  fortunate 
this  year  in  getting  better  housing  facilities  for  the 
young  folks  for  the  week  on  the  fair  grounds.  The 
Country  Theater  did  not  stage  any  performances  at 
the  fair  this  year,  and  the  wing  of  the  old  “dome 
building”  at  the  fair,  formerly  used  by  it.  was  given 
over  as  a  dormitory  for  the  young  folks.  As  part 
of  this  building  was  badly  damaged  in  a  windstorm 
of  the  past  year  this  made  but  little  gain  over  the 
previous  quarters.  Many  have  expressed  the  hope 
that  in  time  the  State  may  give  the  boys  and  girls 
a  suitable  building  for  their  growing  and  most 
worthy  contributions  to  the  fair.  Careful  attention 
is  given  to  the  physical  welfare  of  the  young  guests 
of  the  fair.  Trained  leadei's  have  charge  of  a  pro¬ 
gram  of  activities.  This  year  the  young  people  were 
especially  fortunate  in  that  Mr.  Chase  of  Albany, 
State  Director  of  Physical  Education,  had  charge  of 
the  boys,  while  an  equally  prominent  woman  expert 
had  charge  of  the  girls. 
INSPIRATIONAL  WORK.  —  The  young  folks 
have  group  organizations,  and  elect  their  repre¬ 
sentatives  to  serve  on  a  camp  council,  which  meets 
daily  to  decide  on  activities,  programs,  and  such 
things.  There  is  a  carefully  prepared  daily  sched¬ 
ule,  which  begins  with  the  rising  whistle  at  7  A.  M., 
and  continues  with  a  setting-up  drill  at  7  :10.  Break¬ 
fast  is  served  at  7  :45,  and  a  council  meeting  is  held 
at  8 :30.  At  S  :45  each  day  there  is  a  general  as¬ 
sembly,  when  short  addresses  are  given  by  well- 
known  public  men,  and  announcements  are  made  of 
the  demonstrations  and  other  events  of  the  day. 
Songs  and  yells  are  practiced,  to  develop  the  right 
sort  of  group  spirit  and  morale.  At  9 :30  sight¬ 
seeing  trips  begin,  conducted  by  adult  leaders,  who 
give  the  youngsters  opportunities  to  see  and  to  un¬ 
derstand  the  educational  exhibits.  At  42  :15  comes 
the  wash-up  for  lunch,  which  is  served  at  12 :30. 
From  1 :15  to  2  P.  M.  is  a  rest  period,  with  time  for 
letter-writing  and  relaxation.  From  2  to  4 :30  dem¬ 
onstrations  and  sight-seeing  fill  the  time,  followed 
by  50  minutes  of  recreation  and  athletics.  At  6 
P.  M.  dinner  is  served,  followed  by  an  evening  pro¬ 
gram  of  social  events,  camp  fire,  singing,  stunts, 
etc.,  with  the  youngsters  encouraged  to  use  any 
talents  they  may  have  along  entertaining  lines.  Taps 
sounds  at  9:45,  and  lights  go  out  at  10  P.  M.,  after 
a  full  and  memorable  day. 
PHYSICAL  CARE. — A  camp  paper,  with  different 
editors  each  day,  is  a  feature.  Doctors  and  nurses 
are  provided  for  any  who  may  need  them.  All  the 
young  folks  are  weighed  and  measured,  and  special 
instructions  are  given  to  those  who  are  underweight, 
or  who  need  advice.  The  menus  are  prepared  by 
an  expert  dietitian.  The  work  along  athletic  lines, 
training,  as  it  does,  the  young  folk  in  group  sports, 
is  alone  a  very  valuable  asset.  They  ought  to  be 
able  to  go  back  to  the  country  schools  with  ideas 
helpful  in  leading  in  school  recreation,  in  showing 
how  to  make  and  use  simple  playground  apparatus, 
and  how  to  conduct  field  day  events.  A  prize  is 
also  awarded  to  the  most  physically  fit  boy  and 
girl. 
THE  CONTESTS. — This  year  there  were  54  con¬ 
testants — 15  boys  and  39  girls.  The  final  award 
vindicated  the  boys  as  spellers,  even  though  they 
were  outnumbered  by  winners  in  county  contests. 
In  the  first  contest  (50  words)  which  began  at 
10:30.  and  was  written,  33  were  eliminated,  leaving 
5  boys  and  16  girls  competing.  In  the  second  con¬ 
test,  which  was  oral  (250  words),  only  two  con¬ 
testants  were  eliminated,  one  boy  and  one  girl.  As 
a  result  of  the  third  contest  (written.  75  words), 
there  were  still  competing,  two  boys  and  five  girls. 
The  two  youngest  contestants,  girls  10  and  11  years 
old.  respectively,  stood  up  until  this  contest,  each 
missing  hut  one  word,  a  valiant  performance,  age 
considered.  The  fourth  contest  was  50  written 
words,  as  a  result  of  which  three  received  perfect 
marks,  and  four  misspelled  one  word  each,  making 
a  tie  for  first,  second,  and  third  places,  and  another 
tie  for  fourth  place,  between  four  contestants. 
THE  FINALS.— An  additional  list  of  40  words 
not  appearing  in  the  list  which  had  been  sent  out 
for  study,  was  given  to  all  seven  contestants.  This 
decided  the  third  and  fourth  place,  but  Knight 
Thornton  of  Wellsville.  Allegany  County,  and  Bar¬ 
bara  Crosby  of  Falconer,  Chautauqua  County,  were 
still  a  tie  for  first  and  second  places.  In  the  last 
contest  the  young  boy,  but  12  years  of  age.  missed 
but  one  word  “vilify,”  which  he  spelled  with  two 
ll’s,  and  Barbara  Crosby  missed  seven.'  This  list 
Picking  Ducks — First  Steps  in  the  Manufacture  of 
Feather  Goods 
included  such  “stickers”  as  deciduous,  defalcation, 
delicatessen,  inoculate,  embarrass,  repellent,  sac¬ 
rilegious.  rarefy,  vilify,  plaguy,  supersede,  and  pic¬ 
nicking.  There  probably  wasn’t  a  happier  boy  on 
the  fair  grounds  at  4  P.  M.  than  Knight  Thornton, 
when  he  emerged  from  the  contest  room,  after  re¬ 
ceiving  the  congratulations  of  many  observers  of 
the  test.  It  was  said  that  though  many  of  the  words 
were  unfamiliar  to  him  their  make-up  seemed  to 
come  to  him  in  a  flash,  words  which  were  a  puzzle 
to  many  teachers. 
The  winner  of  the  third  place  was  Helen  Euser 
of  (Broadalbin,  Fulton  County ;  of  fourth  place, 
Eunice  Peabody  of  Holland  Patent.  Oneida  County. 
On  Tuesday  evening  at  6:30  a  banquet  was  held 
at  the  club  house  on  the  grounds  in  honor  of  the 
contestants  at  which  Lieutenant-Govenior  Lunn 
presided.  Speakers  included  Commissioner  of  Agri¬ 
culture.  Benie  A.  Pyrke,  whose  especial  charge  and 
pride  this  work  is,  Judge  Crosby  of  Falconer,  and 
Commissioner  of  Education,  Frank  P.  Graves,  who 
presented  the  prizes  to  the  winners.  m.  g.  f. 
The  Hog  and  His  “Place  in  the  Sun” 
Pakt  II 
CHOOSING  A  BREED.— Choose  the  breed  that 
best  meets  your  own  fancy  as  to  type,  color  and 
conformation,  making  sure  to  select  representative 
specimens  that  clearly  evidence,  as  well  as  surely 
inherit,  genuine  feeding  and  grazing  qualities.  Do 
not  be  influenced  in  your  choice  of  breeds  by  the 
false  claims  advanced  by  the  promotei*s  of  minor 
breeds,  contending  natural  immunity  to  cholera  or 
holding  out  inducements  and  claims  that  never  ma¬ 
terialize.  Obtain  the  advice  of  the  most  successful 
swine  grower  in  your  section,  and  choose  the  breed 
most  extensively  grown  in  your  district.  Remember 
that  there  are  both  good  and  inferior  types  and 
sti'ains  within  every  one  of  the  breeds.  Seek  foun¬ 
dation  stock  possessing  a  desirable  conformation ; 
make  sui'e  that  their  meat  making  and  feed  eating 
qualities  are  realities  and  that  such  possessions  are 
the  results  of  careful  selection  and  intelligent  feed¬ 
ing  for  several  generations  back.  Purebred  animals 
reproduce  true  to  type  and  there  is  no  excuse  for 
attempting  to  produce  pork  profitably  from  mongrel 
animals.  Even  the  lone  pig  confined  in  a  small  pen 
should  be  carefully  chosen  and  intelligently  fed. 
The  importance  of  choosing  only  animals  of  known 
breeding  that  have  been  grown  and  developed  under 
conditions  quite  similar  to  those  that  are  to  prevail 
on  your  own  premises,  is  frequently  overlooked ; 
however,  this  one  step  is  often  the  determining  fac¬ 
tor  between  success  or  failure  in  swine  production. 
CARE  OF  BREEDING  STOCK.— Brood  sows  or 
gilts  possessing  size,  scale  and  quality  prove  to  be 
the  most  satisfactory  breeding  matrons.  If  they 
are  maintained  relatively  thin  in  flesh,  previous  to 
and  during  the  mating  season,  and  allowed  to  gain 
regularly  in  weight  during  the  gestation  period,  the 
litters  will  be  larger,  the  newly  born  pigs  stronger 
and  more  vigorous,  while  the  sows  themselves  will 
produce  more  milk  for  their  pigs.  The  gestation 
period  with  sows  varies  from  112  to  116  days. 
During  the  mating  season  sows  will  come  in  use 
every  17  or  21  days  and  remain  3  or  4  days. 
THE  YOUNG  PIGS  will  not  require  very  much 
milk  during  the  first  week  or  10  days,  hence 
the  sow's  daily  ration  should  be  somewhat  re¬ 
stricted  just  previous  to  and  for  the  10  days  follow¬ 
ing  farrowing.  The  youngsters  will  begin  to  eat 
and  drink  when  about  three  weeks  of  age,  and  sows 
nursing  pigs  of  this  age  should  be  fed  all  of  the 
feed  that  they  will  clean  up  with  relish.  The  best 
pigs  will  be  raised  by  the  sow  that  provides  her 
young  with  the  most  milk.  Castrate  the  boar  pigs 
when  four  weeks  old  and  wean  the  entire  litter 
when  eight  or  nine  weeks  old.  If  the  self-feeder  is 
used  for  feeding  brood  sows  nursing  pigs,  it  should 
be  installed  when  the  litter  is  three  weeks  old. 
Allow  the  pigs  free  access  to  the  feed  hoppers  and 
they  will  scarcely  miss  the  nurse  when  weaning  age 
is  reached.  The  sows  should  be  denied  access  to 
the  feeders  and  all  grain  feeds  kept  from  them  for 
two  or  three  days  during  the  weaning  period.  After 
the  udders  appear  to  be  dried  up  the  scanty  ra¬ 
tions  can  be  gradually  increased. 
POINTS  IN  BREEDING.— Under  average  farm 
conditions,  April  and  September  are  the  best  months 
to  have  the  sows  farrow.  Gilts  with  their  first  lit¬ 
ters  will  raise  more  pigs  if  allowed  to  farrow  in 
May,  especially  if  provision  is  made  for  them  to 
have  the  run  of  a  pasture  lot  or  have  access  to 
forage  crops.  Gilts  may  be  bred  when  nine  months 
old  provided  they  have  been  well  grown  and  de¬ 
veloped.  Mature  sows  will  usually  produce  two 
litters  per  year  if  desired.  Spring  pigs  are  in¬ 
variably  more  profitable  than  Fall  litters.  It  is 
important  that  sows  and  boars  selected  for  breed¬ 
ing  purposes  trace  to  large,  uniform  litters,  and 
that  they  should  evidence  thrift  and  display  at¬ 
tractive  feeding  qualities  throughout  their  growing 
and  development  period.  The  mating  together  of 
individuals  carrying  close  blood  relationship  is  not 
generally  recommended.  Inbreeding  is  likely  to  re¬ 
sult  in  the  production  of  small  weak  litters;  the 
pigs  will  most  likely  be  uneven  in  size  and  fail  to 
evidence  sufficient  vigor  to  enable  them  to  grow  and 
gain,  satisfactorily.  Shy  and  irregular  breeders 
are  more  frequently  found  among  individuals  that 
are  close  or  intensely  inbred.  Cross-breeding,  i.  e., 
the  mating  of  '  animals  lepresenting  two  distinct 
breeds,  such  as  the  Duroc  boar  with  Yorkshire 
sows,  will  produce  market  animals  possessing  de¬ 
sirable  feeding  and  grazing  qualities.  Animals  re¬ 
sulting  from  such  matings  do  not  make  satisfac¬ 
tory  breeding  animals.  Where  only  a  few  brood 
sows  are  held  over  for  breeding  purposes,  an  at¬ 
tempt  should  be  made  to  breed  them  so  that  all 
will  farrow  during  the  same  week  if  possible. 
Young  pigs  of  the  same*  age  and  weight  can  be 
grown  and  yarded  together  and  will  make  a  more 
uniform  lot  of  fat  hogs.  Where  there  is  a  wide 
variation  in  age  and  size  the  older  pigs  steal  from 
the  younger  ones  and  the  tendency  for  the  develop¬ 
ment  of  stunted  or  runty  pigs  is  greatly  increased. 
After  the  pigs  are  weaned  it  is  well  to  group  them 
by  weight  rather  than  age,  as  this  practice  greatly 
simplifies  the  feeding  problem. 
FORAGE  CROPS  such  as  Alfalfa,  rape,  Soy  beans, 
clover,  oats  and  field  peas  make  good  green  feeds 
for  swine.  Combination  mixtures  give  the  great¬ 
est  yields.  Blue  grass  or  permanent  pastures  are 
less  satisfactory.  Useful  seed  mixtures  suggesting 
the  number  of  pounds  of  seed  necessary  to  plant 
one  acre  follow :  No.  1,  oats,  32  lbs. ;  barley,  15 
