Thf Farm

The great success attained by Mr. A. A. Southwick at the Massachusetts agricultural college farm in the breeding of swine, and especially Berkshires, makes any Information from him on the subject doubly interesting. The Berkshire is his favorite breed. He admits that other breeds are valuable and good for many reasons, but thinks these the best because they seem to meet the demands of the grealest number of people. What is wanted by the majority of farmers is a hog that will attain a weight of from 150 to 200 pounds in the shortest possible time, with the least trouble and expense. The butchers do not wish to handle a heavier bulk, and it is f requently hard to dispose of an extremely heavy animal. The Berkshire seems best calculated to meet this (iemand, as tliey need no extra feed to fatten, but are ready to kill any time after tliree months old, though additional feeding always produces paying results. " ""oa.fnl breeder of swine, a man must be interesteu the business, and study the wants of the animáis, that he may know what they really need. There is no profit iñ keepmg swine, unless they are continually improving. In breedng, Mr. Southwick iinds the best anímala are producedfroin a sow and boar from two to five years old. A sow shoulcl never have young until at least one year old, as otherwise the material which should enter into and enlarge her frame is utilized in the development of her young and the animal is necessarily stunted. Perfection is more requisite in the boar, though the female must also be well-marked to secure flne animáis. The litter should be allowed to stay with the mother until at least five weeks old ; but if extra line pigs are desired, feed her well and let them remain till eight weeks old. For the first month after weaning, feed f our times daily ; after that two good meals, morning and night, with a little slops at noon, are suftlcient to keep them improving if out to grass. But if in pens, they should be fed all they will eat up clean. Corn on the cob is excellent feed, especially when the hogs are out to pasture. Or Indian meal, one-half bushei to thirty gallons of water, on being boiled till the meal is retained in suspension, makes a thin porridge which is a very good food. Bye, wheat, oats, mixed and ground and boiled in this rnanner also does very well. In winter' boiled potatoes and meal make a cheap and effective feed. For a breeding sow it should be fed thin, especially just before breeding. See that they have an occasional lot of fresh vegetables, and give apples, if an abundance are at hand, in case the animals are restless. A dose of chavcoal from time to time should not be forantton, Mtt ia fisueciallygood for cholera; andif at any time tiiey seein u crave anythmg, let them have it. In buying swine get a good animal- that is, let it be thrifty and well grown, and also well marked with the artificial points, which are more necessary in the boar than sow, though both should have them. Do not buy an animal from a litter where there are many imperfect ones. For breeding purposes, the animáis should be from a well matiu-ed sire and dam, marked in the Berkshire, with four white feet white on the face, and white tip of tail, with good shoulder, ham and loins. Let the sow be developed in the most important parts ; small leg and large ham, loin and shoulder, flne head with short nose, with spring rib and thick through the heart, showing strong.well developed lungs. Get all these points in an animal, and you have a "good imal - one that will produce the most work. Of whatever breed have the pig recorded, and keep a strict account of the stock, as it will doublé its value in case it is wished to niake sales. - JV. E. Homestead.