THE UREEDER AND BREEDING 23 



tlie writers term "bacon" hogs, and the importance if 

 not necessity of giving more attention to their production 

 and less to what are disparagingly designated as "lard" 

 hogs; extolling the higher prices and the virtues of lean 

 pork and the superiority of the lean or non-fattening 

 breeds and types, including Razor-Backs, all claimed as 

 yielding the much-coveted streak of lean and streak of 

 fat. The eft'ect, however, of this propaganda has not 

 l)een widespread in the United States; in fact, in a com- 

 mercial way, scarcely perceptiljle. Bacon production in 

 America from what breeders term the "bacon" breeds is 

 most largely a Canadian industry, and in territory where 

 the staple swine food is other than com. 



In America and the markets, in spite of proposed re- 

 forms, alleged demand, higher prices and imagined com- 

 petition, the type and style of hog that for decades has 

 been a food reliance for the millions, the "lard" 

 hog of the corn belt, still not only occupies the 

 stage, but fills it. The feeling existent in reference to 

 bacon growing is well expressed by a Nebraska editor, 

 who says : "The farmer is not governed in his work to 

 any perceptible extent b)^ sentiment or fancy. With him 

 it is a plain business proposition of raising crops to get 

 the largest returns in dollars and cents for the labor and 

 expense put into the work. While hog raisers like to 

 satisfy tlieir fancies as to breed, they will not do this 

 with a plain understanding that they are thereby making 

 a money sacrifice. When tlie time comes that there is a 

 reh'al)le special market established for the bacon hog, 

 and at prices that will justify his production in preference 



