LIVE STOCK breeders' ASSOCIATION. 133 



on his dress parade clothes, he did not look as handsome as the same 

 animal would have looked had he been highly fitted. The buyer did 

 not know that the animal sent him was really first class, but having 

 seen some male pigs at the fairs that fall bred and fitted by this breeder 

 he expected to receive a pig in just that condition. He wrote the breeder 

 a very scorching letter, but the breeder was wise enough to ask him 

 to reserve his judgment until after he had used the animal, and if he 

 was not satisfactory then, to return him and he would refund the price 

 paid. The purchaser was greatly pleased with his purchase after he 

 had kept him long enough to know his true value, and afterwards thanked 

 tJie breeder for sending him this pig. Breeders cannot send out all their 

 animals fitted for state fairs, but they should send them out in good 

 thrifty condition. Sometimes breeders depend upon pedigrees alone, but 

 the buyer is entitled not only to the pedigree that he gets with his animal, 

 but is entitled to an animal well and carefully developed, and in good 

 fiesh and perfect health. 



I have purchased considerable stock on mail order, and do not think 

 that I ever was deliberately cheated, although I have often been disap- 

 pointed at the time the animal was received. However, I believe I have 

 always gotten full value where the animal purchased had been properly 

 cared for, and good judgment used in feeding, etc., and was handled 

 properly after reaching me. 



I deduct the following conclusions from my own experience in buy- 

 ing and selling pedigreed swine on mail order : 



1st, You must pay the price if you expect to get the quality. Don't 

 expect a $40.00 pig for $15.00. It pays to buy the best, and to get the 

 best, you must pay a fair price. 



2nd. Buy only from those breeders in whom you have confidence, 

 and do not hesitate to take their judgment to some extent. 



3rd. Do not be disappointed if on receipt of the animal it is not ex- 

 actly what you had pictured, provided there are no material defects, and 

 the seller has not overdrawn his description. 



4th. Breeders should be careful in their description, should send 

 out only really first-class animals, properly fitted, but not overfed. 



5th. Buyers should state plainly what they want, and not expect a 

 breeder to describe every animal in his herd. 



6th. Buyer and seller should not be unduly influenced by "fads" in 

 blood lines, or in certain marked development of the animal. All the 

 good hogs do not belong to any one family, and all good hogs do not 

 have a perfect ear or head, etc., though these points are very important 

 and not to be overlooked. 



