are Canadian bred, and so far as is possible are purchased in
the province in which they are to be located. The object is undoubtedly
to encourage in Canada the breeding of pure bred animals and may thus
far be considered satisfactory, but it is acting on an assumption which
may not be justified that there exists in the Dominion a sufficiency of
stock equal in quality and breeding to those which it may be possible to
import.

Within the past three or four years our Board of Agriculture have taken
some steps to assist our farmers to improve their stock. The assistance
has taken the form of offering premiums of fixed amounts to private
persons or associations who hired or purchased approved stallions,
bulls, and boars which were placed at fixed fees at the service of the
stock of the public. Already great benefit has been derived from the use
of the stallions and bulls, and this to a far greater extent than in the
pigs, as owing to an unfortunate condition which was attempted to be
enforced as to the formation of pig clubs and impracticable conditions
the number of boars located in the country has been much smaller than
would have been had the conditions at present in force been adopted at
the initiation of the scheme.

The boar conditions are now of a similar character to those in force
from the first with regard to stallions and bulls. In addition to the
supply of male animals at comparatively low fees an attempt has been
made to assist in the recording of the milk yield of cows, a matter of
the highest importance. If only this could be extended to sows there
would soon cease to be cause for the far too common complaint of the
owners of sows of certain breeds of pedigree pigs, as to the limited
quantity of milk which is provided by the sows for their litters of
pigs.

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Photo, Francis Davis, Needingworth._

THREE MIDDLE WHITE BREEDING SOWS.

The Property of the Author. Also portion of 17 Sties at Holywell Manor,
near St. Ives.

To face page 48.]

* * * * *

[Illustration: _Photo, Sport and General._

A MIDDLE WHITE BOAR.

From the Author's Pig Farm.

To face page 49.]

CHAPTER IV

DENTITION AND AGE OF PIGS

Although the majority of pig sellers may claim to be, and may be able to
substantiate the claim to be, equally as honest as the majority of
others in trade, yet there may be a small minority who are