414 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



John F. Stover: The answer to this question greatly depends on cir- 

 cumstances. If the beginner has selected good individuals of the right 

 type for his breeding herd and understands mating them for the best 

 results; then after he has produced pigs of the right type and under- 

 stands feeding to develop for the show ring, and can produce animals of 

 his own breeding good enough to win at the best state fairs, and als > 

 has a surplus of choice pigs to sell, then it certainly would pay him to 

 show his stock, not just for the picmiums alone, because they have been 

 cut down too low. Winning the ribbons will find buyers for his surplus 

 pigs at good prices. On the other hand if he had to buy his show herd 

 and could not show good animals of his own breeding I would not 

 consider it profitable to show. 



A. S. Gilmour & Co.: We will say without any hesitation that it 

 does not pay to show swine at fairs. The money expended in showing 

 judiciously expended in advertising will, we think, pay a great deal bet- 

 ter. Awarding premiums at fairs has become a much-abused system. 



I. N. Barker & Son: We say without hesitation, it does pay. This 

 answer is based both on our observation and experience. If the beginner 

 has really good stock it costs a good deal of money. If he wishes to 

 realize well on it he must sell for more than market prices. In order to 

 do this he must let people know he has stock of a superior quality. The 

 best way to do this is to place it on exhibition, where people can see it 

 The fall fairs furnish a splendid place. The next best thing to do is to 

 advertise. 



STRONGLY COMMKNDS SHOWING 



Ed W. Monnier, Jo Daviess County, III., in Breeders' Gazette. 



In answer to the question "Does it pay to show?" I say to any young 

 man who contemplates following the breeding of pure-bred stock, it most 

 certainly pays to exhibit at the leading county and state fairs. It brings 

 your stock into competition with that of other breeders and furnishes an 

 opportunity for direct comparison that you cannot otherwise obtain. If 

 you get beaten at first, try again. It will be cheap education after all. 



Do not waste time on the fairs where the judging is done by a com- 

 mittee of three selected from the crowd on the third day of the fair and 

 whose pay is their dinner and the honor. It is seldom that three com- 

 petent men can be found in that way and a competent man will object 

 to serving on such a committee. No man is capable of judging stock 

 unless he is interested in what he is doing and loves the work and some 

 awkward work is even done in this way, but it is an improvement on 

 any plan previously tried. Our fairs should be educational, and any 

 award made should be backed up by reasons for it if necessary. The man 

 who tries to please all and divide the premiums as evenly as possible 



