I'RACTICAL POINTS IN BREEDING 7I 



should be neither too tine and small, nor too large and 

 spong-y, but amply strong for supporting the animal at 

 any age or weight. The ankles should be strong, so 

 tliat the hog stands hrml}- and walks squarely on short, 

 broad feet, without difficulty and without signs of being 

 in any wise crippled. Faulty breeding and a corn diet 

 lor many generations have tended to defective, sprawl- 

 ing feet, and weakness in the low^er limbs of many of 

 the otherwise almost perfect swine. These are defects 

 which breeders should strive to overcome by selection, 

 mating and properly balanced diet, .\nimals so vitally 

 weak in one part are likely to ha\e kintlred weaknesses 

 in other parts such as no careful breeder wishes to pos- 

 sess or propagate. 



Abundant hair, lively and somewhat fine and soft, 

 growing out of a pliable skin, which is neither thick 

 nor papery, and free from mangy conditions, tells the 

 story of robust health, vigor, thrift and active circula- 

 tion. 



The ideal hog should not be too sleepy and sluggish, 

 nor, on the other hand, restless and uneasy. Free action 

 and a bright, sprightly manner are signs of good diges- 

 tion and good health. If he is a comfortable, good- 

 natured, friendly creature, wide-awake, disposed to visit 

 with his owner, instead of running away from him, and 

 has the other points of excellence mentioned, he can 

 scarcely fail to be a joy to his possessor and approxi- 

 mate, in the eyes of many, a thing of beauty. 



Balanced breeding is as essential as balanced feeding: 

 the burden of excellence should not be placed upon the 



