Imperial press., 1901-06-15
Best Breed oi Pigs

K ". BeSSing SlNes lut PuuiAO '"N benefit of his experience In trying to solve the question as Co which ls the best breed of pigs. that is. which pig will produce the most bacon with the least amount of feedF" His answer to this question, as given In the Rural Californian. Is as follows: There are three distinct breeds generally kept vir.: the Berkshire. Essex, and Po- land China. Undoubtedly the Berk- shire pig gives maximum of lean meat with a minimum of fat, which Is a consideration with most people where as the Essex gives n larger amount of fat In proportion to the lean. yet where lard Is the object, an Essex will yield as much as two berk- shires. and of a superior quality. l find 1 can fatten thTee Essex pigs with the same quantity of feed that it takes to fatten two Berkshires, ana there will be very little difference in the weight of each pig. In addition the Berkshire pig invariably takes to eating poultry even when well fed' which the Essex rarely do.
 Having tried the three breeds men toned. 1 have come to the conclusion that the best pig Is q cross from an Essex boar mated with a good Berk- shire SOW. The pure Essex sows are very unavoidable for breeding-in fact some will not breed at all. others only one litter of six or seven year; whereas most Berkshire sows Will hare two filters a year of eight to ten each litter. These. when six weeks old i'll yield a handsome profit on the feed. It does not pay to Keep pigs over twelve months old, except Tor breeding or show purposes. as the most valuable bacon Is that from pigs under 15O pounds weight.
 The Poland China Is the most pop ular hog In the United States. especb ally in the corn States of the Middle West. but it's corn diet has tended to- ward too great production of lard to lean meat in the carcass. This breed Is not quite so strong in reproductive powers as the Berkshire. Ten Berk- shire sows will produce eighty-two pigs. while Poland Chinas will have but seven .y-four. Experiments with a large number of pigs also show that ten Berkshire sows will raise seventy one pigs to weaning age. while ten Poland -Chinas will raise sixty-one." |
 Pruning
 IL Is a good time now to do little pruning of orange trees. Lemons re- auire special treatment. according to what is going to be required ot 1t SO as to favor fruitage at time when the demand Is best. Locality will also mod ify any specific rules. Young trees In very active growth require different treatment from those of an older growth and In fuller bearing. The Eureka, too. requires dicerent treat ment from the Villa Franca, owing to their different manner of growth. The grower will require to be governed somewhat by the experience in his own ! locality. but as VIC do not yet know it and in regard to pruning the lemon it Is good policy to mark the results of any variation from the regular prac- | tices Orange trees that have been started right will need but little prun- ! Ing apart from suckering. Some of the best-informed discourage the idea of pruning except for broken limbs or where they hang too much in the way Of the cultiyator. Cultiya- tor. .S5A
 Cheap Trap Nest
 A simple and cheap trap nest which anyone can make in an hour is thus described by the Poultry Monthly: These nests will not cost more than one cent each. as any grocer will give away the old egg crates Make hinges Of pieces cut from old shoes | IFIsG. ala Hn