98 SWINE IN AMERICA 



Even the use of the whip is advisable if necessary to 

 make him exercise. The service following treatment will 

 be experimental, and, if unsatisfactory, it is better not to 

 take further risk with the animal unless he is of unusual 

 \alue. At this time, as in the beginning, the fact should 

 be taken into account that the condition of the sow'S may 

 also have had a bearing on the failure. 



Many farmers breed less than a dozen sows, on an 

 average, at any one season of the year, and to keep a 

 matured boar in the best condition is felt to be quite an 

 expense by one man v^^ith so few sows. Where three or 

 four swine raisers live in proximity to one another it is 

 no doubt the best and cheapest plan for them jointly to 

 own and use one strictly high-class boar, instead of each 

 keeping wholly at his own expense one that '*he thinks 

 will do," although not so good as he would like and 

 would afford if the first cost and subsequent expense and 

 care were not so great. Properly managed, one boar 

 would, in many cases, answer every purpose as well as 

 half a dozen for th'at number of small farmers, and his 

 cost and keep, if shared by all. would scarcely be felt, 

 while at the same time the temptation to use some mon- 

 grel or immature pig would be removed, the boar would 

 be better kept, and the rivalry naturally resulting would 

 encourage each of the owners to keep a better grade of 

 sows. 



PRACTICAL TESTIMONY 



Practical testimony regarding selection and manage-- 

 ment is of special value when it comes from men of 



