ANNUAL REPORT—AGRICULTURE. 
47 
in the amount of Indian corn produced in 1869 over the 
amount in 1859. 
It is an encouraging fact, however, that more attention has 
of late been directed to the improvement of our breeds of 
swine by numerous importations from other states and even 
from foreign countries. If they do not raise so large a num¬ 
ber, our farmers, many of them, are at least determined to as¬ 
certain what breeds are most economical. 
It is believed that the production of pork is an interest that 
may well engage the attention of the farming public to a 
much greater degree than at present. Pork, like wheat, al¬ 
ways finds a market at some price, and besides its relative 
compactness, which is of itself a great point where the pro¬ 
ducer is far from the controlling markets, possesses this fur¬ 
ther advantage, namely, that by requiring the consumption of 
the pork-producing crops upon the farm, instead of selling 
them for exportation, so much as becomes refuse or offal in the 
process of feeding is thereby saved to the soil. 
The prices paid for hogs during the past few years are fur¬ 
ther confirmation of what we have said of the profits of the 
pork business. 
Table showing the season prices per 100 lbs. of Dressed Hogs, since 1860. 
Seasons. 
1860-61 
1861-62 
1862- 63 
1863- 04 
1864- 65 
1865- 66 
1866- 67 
1867- 68 
1868- 69 
1869- 70 
1870- 71 
November. 
December. 
January. 
February. 
$5. 00@|6. 55 
2 . 00@ 3.50 
3. 50@ 4. 00 
' 5. 50@ 6. 50 
12, 00@13. 00 
$5. 00@$5. 75 
3, 00@k3. 50 
3. 65@ 4. 45 
5. 50@ 7. 25 
12. 25@15. 00 
9. 25@11.00 
6 . 00@ 7.75 
7. 00@8. 371 
8 . 75@11.75 
10. 00@13. 25 
6 . 50@ 7. 90 
$5. 40@$6. 50 
2.50@ 3.00 
3. 90@ 5.00 
6 . 25@ 7. 75 
13. 00@15. 25 
9.00@11.00 
6 . 75ce 7. 30 
7. 25@ 8. 30 
11. 00@13. 00 
10 . 00@11.00 
7. 00@ 8. 75 
|5. 90@|6. 50 
2. 65@ 3. 90 
4.10@ 5.25 
7.50(5) 8.25 
12. 50@14. 00 
10.00@11.35 
7. 00@ 7. 75 
7. 60@10. 25 
12. 00@14. 50 
10 . 00@10. 75 
8 . 25@ 8.75 
7. 00@ 9. 50 
5. 50@ 7. 50 
11. 00@13. 25 
7. 25@ 8. 25 
March. 
10.50@11.35 
7.75@ 8.50 
11.00@13.00 
9.50@10.25 
7.00@ 8.00 
The disease known as hog cholera , which has been so 
destructive in Illinois and Iowa, and in some portions of the 
west, has but rarely been heard of in this state—perhaps we 
