EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X. 717 



that this permanent prosperity can rest on no other foundation than 

 that of the permanence of the fertility of the soil. 



Speaking now particularly of swine breeding as distinct from the 

 breeding of other classes of live stock, it is well to notice that the 

 average swine breeder has before him this problem: To grow the 

 maxium corn crop and best hog pastures at the minimum of expense; to 

 feed this grass and grain grown on the farm in the form of the best bal- 

 anced ration possible to swine bred to make the best possible use of this 

 balanced ration. To grow these grains and grasses, to feed them in the 

 proper proportions to the class of hogs that will make the best use of 

 them, and sell these hogs at the minimum of expense and the maximum 

 of profit, is the mission of almost every swine breeder, the only practi- 

 cal exception being those who buy their grain instead of growing it. 



In the solution of this problem the agricultural paper can give more 

 eflScient help to the swine breeder than any other publication known to 

 mortal man. The swine breeder, unfortunately, is often disposed to look up- 

 on the agricultural paper as simply an advertising medium, a means by 

 which he can sell his stock to the best advantage. This is a very 

 narrow view. For the breeder must grow his stock before he can sell 

 it. He must secure the best strains if he expects to market his hogs to 

 the best advantage. He must feed his crops in the form of properly 

 balanced rations. He must grow his own feed if he is to secure it at 

 the minimum of expense and at the same time maintain the fertility 

 of his land, in order that he may grow more and greater crops. 



Now the growing of the corn crop involves a good deal more than 

 the preparation of the seed bed, the selection of the seed corn, the culti- 

 vation and harvesting of the crop. It involves a knowledge of the 

 rotation of crops; a knowledge of the various forms of insect life in- 

 jurious to the corn plant. It involves the whole question of breeding 

 corn as well as of breeding live stock. If for no other reason than 

 that of aiding him to grow corn the swine breeder who would succeed 

 should secure the best agricultural paper or papers available, and study 

 them with the greatest care. An agricultural paper which devotes 

 much space to live stock matters is often of greater value to the swine 

 grower in teaching him how to grow the grain and feed it than in 

 helping him through its advertising pages to dispose of his surplus 

 stock. 



The agricultural paper can be of great help to the swine breeders in 

 suggesting the best methods of balancing rations. Ordinarily swine 

 breeders are" well up on the question of balanced rations. Sometimes, 

 in fact, they are much better posted on the subject than they would 

 have us believe. I remember of visiting a herd one time which the 

 owner assured me had been raised on corn and water. I knew he was 

 lying to me at the time, but said nothing until I had an opportunity to 

 examine his swill barrel. I found that it differed very much from the 

 ordinary swill barrel in that there was no swilly smell about it. I 

 found it contained an admirable mixture of wheat and oats and oil 

 meal, and I know not what, but evidently a balanced ration that would 

 make any well bred or ill bred pig's mouth water, and like the wine 



