576 BOARD OF AGKICULTURE. 



in speaking of thie popularity of certain strains of blood is that simply 

 because they are popular the breeder too often brings the lines of blood 

 too close, in order to trace on the popular lines to a certain individual, 

 and in some cases to the point of inbreeding; and being a firm believer 

 in the fact that inbreeding is in many ways detrimental to the constitu- 

 tion and vigor in mating of all classes of stock, I feel that it might be 

 the means of directing the minds of breeders from the practice of line 

 breeding to excess, to the injury of the constitution and vigor of the 

 hog, one of the most prolitable products of the corn belt of our country. 

 And for fear that some breeder might think that I favor crossing the 

 different breeds for constitution and vigor, I would ask why should a 

 breeder breed an individual of stronger constitution to one of less to 

 improve. Being a tirm believer iu the principle that like begets like, 

 and in the different breeds we have the type to correct our mistakes from, 

 but in cross-bred hogs we have lost the type and have absolutely nothing 

 but a mongrel and nothing to correct our mistakes. And as the breed- 

 ing and care of swine has come to be a science, and it is from our 

 swine breeders' meetings, and live stock journals, and experimental sta- 

 tions that we derive our greatest help, and they have been the means 

 of improvement both in breeding and feeding of the different breeds, until 

 we have arrived at the point in the breeding ring, as in the speed ring, 

 one to be a success must be able to make a high mark. And as a correct 

 principle the man that can produce the best of anything is the man that 

 is successful in his operations, as he can sell good quality at a good 

 profit much easier than he can sell the inferior at a low price. So I would 

 say hold fast to that which is good and look Avell to the future. Re- 

 member that in union there is strength. Strive to do more for the swine 

 industry the coming year than we have the past year. And speaking 

 for the members of this Association I believe I am safe in saying that 

 we fully realize our responsibility as breeders, and in. the future as in 

 the past, while we will not all have the privilege of riding in the pro- 

 cession on the band wagon, we will have a few breeders and plenty of 

 lions when the procession moves down the line. Kindly accept my thanks 

 for the honor which by your kindness you have given me as a member 

 of the Association. 



