The Hessian fly*, the most important insect pest affecting the wheat crop in Iowa, was imported from Europe probably either just before or during the period of the Revolutionary War. Its depredations were first observed on Long Island, New York, in 1779, in the vicinity of Lord Howe's old encampment site of three years before. As the Hessian mercenaries, who constituted a part of the foregoing army, were much despised in America and as it was generally supposed that the pest had been brought into this country in straw used for the bedding of these soldiers, the common and obnoxious name, "Hessian fly", was bestowed upon this insect. The fly spread rapidly westward and it is now established thruout the wheat growing belt of the United· States. It would be difficult to estimate the total damage done by this pest since its importation into America, but tax amounting to at least $100,000,000 in a single year has been charged against it.

The results of pig feeding tests, conducted in 1920–21 with specialty or commercial feeds by the Animal Husbandry Section of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, have been so grossly and persistently misrepresented by one company in particular that this circular Is Is· sued to present the complete figures. The misrepresentation con· slated In using only a part of the experimental figures, thus giving an Incorrect interpretation of the data secured in the test.

Countless hundreds of orphan pigs are lost annually in Iowa and other states of the corn belt. When they are saved and reared, it is mostly thru "b'guess and b'gosh" methods, there being usually very little system on the majority of farms in making an attempt to pull them thru. The present loss of orphan pigs can be greatly reduced by following certain feeding and management essentials which are now known.

Cattle feeding barns, carefully planned and properly built for sanitation and convenience of man and beast, represent good investments. The types of shelters and barns described in this circular have been used long enough by successful breeders and feeders in this state to demonstrate their worth. They are both economical in construction and practical for cornbelt conditions.

Forage crops are essential in good and economical summer rations for growing and fattening swine. They provide a way to cut down the cost of gains, inasmuch as they cut down on the requirement of meat meal tankage and other desirable protein supplements which are usually high in price. At the same time they enlarge opportunities for the quicker, more profitable raising of better and healthier pigs.

"Mineral Mixtures for Swine" is the title of a four-paged mimeographed pamphlet, No. G-21, issued by the Animal Husbandry Section in December, 1920. This pamphlet was prepared to facilitate the answering of numerous inquiries in regard to the feeding of minerals to hogs. It gave suggestions to swine men concerning the practical make-up and use of mineral mixtures.

Potato fields In Iowa for several years have suffered from "burning," which has seriously cut the yield of this crop. The trouble has been called tlpburn. Its cause was unknown until recently, when It was discovered that It Is due chiefly to the potato leafhopper, a little green, fly-llke Insect that appears In enormous numbers during the summer. The Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station has verified this connection between the leafhopper and tlpburn or "hopperburn" and control measures have been devised.

Hundreds of requests come to the Animal Husbandry Department of Iowa State College for information relating to the literature of the swine industry as well as for the names and addresses of swine registry and record associations. To supply this increasing demand this catalog and directory has been prepared to present Information which is concise and up-to-date. The literature on swine husbandry is growing rapidly and many notable additions to the list of publications on this subject may be expected in the near future.

The brood sows represent in a large measure the backbone or the swine herd, hence their correct nutrition and handling are of dollars and cents Importance.

There arc two essentials for a successful livestock sale,-—animals and buyers. Excellence in the quality and condition of animals plus a good number of buyers and keen interest of bidders, puts snap and vim into a sale. To conduct a sale success· fully, the animals must be shown to the best advantage before the sale and during the bidding, and the bidders must be made comfortable so that they will be kept in a buying mood. The right type of sales pavilion will go far to insure these favorable factors.