196 BREED HISTORIES 



mature at an early age, are more uniform in shape, color, and 

 quality, hence are worth more for market purposes than scrubs. 

 Purebred sires are a necessity. 



It is true that there are pedigree scrubs, but these are to be dis- 

 carded. No breeder who wishes to build up a permanent business 

 and a good reputation should breed from inferior animals, or sell 

 their produce for breeding purposes. The price asked for pure- 

 bred animals should be sufficient to guarantee to the purchaser 

 that he will get valuable animals, typical of the breed. Too many 

 purchasers want to buy cheap. Don't cater to that kind of trade. 



In the swine industry let there be a higher standard of excel- 

 lence for pedigree stock, a more general appreciation of its value 

 among breeders, and then a means of impressing this value on in- 

 tending purchasers. We must have confidence in our business, else 

 we cannot inspire others with confidence. More and more is con- 

 fidence in breeders becoming apparent, and those who have or will 

 achieve success must be honest and have the confidence of the public. 

 A sale made by mail should be as satisfactory as by personal inspec- 

 tion of the herd by the would-be purchaser. That inspires confi- 

 dence in the business. 



Breed for a purpose, have an ideal and strive to attain it. The 

 breeder who aims at nothing in particular usually hits the mark. 

 Nowhere is the goal of him who follows anywhere. Breed and 

 feed improve live stock for profit. Breed improved live 'stock for 

 the pleasure there is in it. Breed improved live stock to hand a 

 legacy to posterity, something of value that will show that you 

 have been a benefactor to your community while engaged in a liveli- 

 hood, and perhaps carved for yourself a name that will be carried 

 into history. The true breeder does not lose sight of the fact that 

 any improvement made in breeding has been done to improve the 

 animal rather than to wander to speculative values. While im- 

 provement goes on, the ideal must be kept in mind, no matter what 

 the commercial value of the animal. Those who have stood "pat," 

 those who looked into the future and guessed it would be good, 

 have not been disappointed; they are reaping their reward. 



