TILE liREEDER AND BREEDING 1/ 



cleanliness and exercise too unimportant for special 

 attention, may make a reputation, but it will be one that 

 is unenviable and unsalable. If he cannot interest him- 

 self in his work and enjoy results attained by systematic 

 and persistent effort, he will more than likely iind swine 

 raising- too taxing for his capacity. 



Some knowledge of hogs and their rearing is essential, 

 but an inexperienced man with an open mind may accom- 

 plish much. He has many sources of information — his 

 neighbors and otiier breeders who have had practical ex- 

 perience, the standard and current literature on swine, 

 the work of the state and national agricultural depart- 

 ments and stations, the agricultural press, meetings of 

 Ijreeders, farmers' institutes, and others. No one knows 

 everything about swine husbandry, but anyone with a 

 desire for knowledge can find abundant opportunity to 

 learn. An excellent principle worth recalling in this 

 connection is that wrong practices once acquired are dif- 

 ficult to overcome, just as wrong traits bred into a herd 

 require a long time for eradication. Slow, but sure, is a 

 good motto for the swine breeder. 



Perhaps the most important characteristic the breeder 

 should possess is love for his work. The man who 

 is not willing to be more than a mere owner and marketer 

 of his swine is not likely to make any large gains. He 

 must be their friend as well ; one whose steps they learn 

 to recognize and whom they will not object to as a visitor. 

 He should be their family physician, alert to ward off 

 any of the maladies that swine are heir to, and willing, 

 if needed, to get up in the middle of a winter's night to 



