SWINE IN AMERICA 



and Its Author 



Introdiii-eil by Prof. W. A. Henry- 



Til irtV-Ocld years ago F. D. Coburn gave to the 

 American farmer tlie best book we have had on swine 

 husbandry. Since then the subject has grown and Mr. 

 Coburn has grown, and all these intervening years, while 

 growing, he has been collecting, sifting and arranging 

 matter for a larger and far more complete work. A really 

 good book is not the product of a month or a year, but 

 rather the fruitage of a wholesome, industrious lifetime 

 of observation, accumulation and refined wisdom. 



There still remains in this country a limited number 

 of farmers who harbor a mild enmity and narrow suspi- 

 cion toward those who write books on agriculture, or 

 those who read such books. It is a steadily diminishing 

 numi)er, fortunately. Now, reader, suppose that you and 

 I were to nieet a successful farmer or stockman on the 

 highway, at a farmers' picnic, on the railway train, or 

 any other place, and drew from him practical, helpful 

 obserxations and experiences in the line in w^hich he ex- 

 celled : we would not only be interested, but also regard 

 what he said as something practical and helpful. \\q 

 would both agree that such information was practical. 

 Now, suppose we had a stenographer to take down not 



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