Swine At The State Fair

Already nearly 100 pens havo been engaged tor swine at the State Fair to be held at Jaokson September 17th to 21t, inclusive. This only shows the growing and inoreasing interest which is taken in this brauoh of Michigan stock husbandry. ïhe hog has long been a coming animal in this State and at last he has arrived in all his fine points, beauty, and symmetry. The pork producís of the State are constantly increasing. It is iinpossiblo to calcúlate thia iuorease, so rapid has it been, and only the figures of the next census can give us an approximation of the value of our pork production. Whereever we go througuout the State the improved breeds of swine are to be seen on nearly every farm. Here is the Berkshire, with his exquisito six white markings and his most intelligent face and kuowing eye, there the Essex, once ignored for his color, uow popular for his easy keeping and quiet manner. Here, again, is the white, clean, Suff'olk, like the Essex, easy to keep and ot sinall bone, while in the more improved southern sections of the State wj fiud the improved Polaud-Chiua, with stout legs to bear up a stout body, a popular American hog, showing strong iuarks of his Berkshire and Chinese extraotion. ïhe State Agricultural Society, alive to the importance of this brauch of' stock industry, have instituted a new división for swine at the State Fair, División D, and placed it in charge of a superintendent by itself. This división representa the four breeds, the shire, the Essex, the Suifolk, and tho Poland China, and for each of these breeds there is offered $105, divided as tollows : lst Prem. 2d Frem. 31 Prem. Boar, two years old or over, . . $12 00 S 00 $4 00 Boar, one year old, 10 00 6 00 3 00 Brood sow, two y rs. orover, . . 12 00 8 00 4 00 Sow, one year old, 10 00 0 00 3 00 Best pen of pigs, not lesa than 4 in number, nor over 10 months old, . .10 00 ( 00 3 00 Best boar of any age, :.... Diploma. So that the total araount offered for swine ia $420, beside $31 offered for fat hogs. We expect to see a fine exhibition of swine at the State Fair, and we adviae the young farmers to go to this school where the different breeda oan be seeu and studied ia their perfeotion. As the capa.oities of the State inorease for corn, clover, and the co arse grains, so tüey will for pork and beef, and it will be on hoof or in carcasa that the profitable exportation of our ooarso grains will be made. The State Society is doing a good work in giving attention to the development and i duction of these improved breeds of ' swine.