THE PIG 



205 



and it is well that this is the case. No one 

 breed is best fitted for all conditions, so long 

 as bacon or lard or pork is sought for itself 

 alone, or even sought in conjunction with 

 other secondary factors. There will be need 

 of many breeds and of many families of the 

 same breed. 



After one has selected the breed that 

 pleases him, he should take pains to secure 

 breeding stock of good type, form, quality, and 

 constitution. The loss by disease is enormous ; 

 hence none but individuals of robust consti- 

 tution should be allowed to come on the place. 

 Once selected, keep the line pure. Much harm 

 has been done by cross breeding and through 

 the use of grade or cross-bred sires. It is 



V. Caring for Swine 

 The old idea that hogs will shift for them- 

 selves, while true in effect, is a poor one to 

 adopt, since it means small profits and often 

 loss. The pig needs care, especially since he 

 has been removed so far from his old wild 

 life. And he responds to civilization as will- 

 ingly as any animal on the farm. But one 

 cannot expect him to do his best where his 

 only drink is the filth of the mudhole, his 

 only nest the manure pile, and his only food 

 the leavings that all others shun. 



Give him pure water to drink, a clean bed 

 in which to sleep, and a variety of food, and 

 he will give greater profits than any other 

 animal on the farm or any crop you raise. 



Fkoi'krtv (IF 0\iui St.atic L'snicRsnv 



money to one if he will use only pure-bred 

 stock from the very start. Hogs are so com- 

 mon and herds of pure breeding so easily 

 available in every community that no diffi- 

 culty will be encountered in starting right 

 and continuing right. 



In selecting breeding stock one must bear 

 these points in mind: short head, dished in 

 the forehead, and good width between the 

 eyes ; fine muzzles, with a short snout ; strong, 

 bright eyes ; drooping or upright ears, not 

 thick or coarse ; soft, mellow skin, with fine, 

 silky hair, somewhat abundant but without 

 bristles ; short, well-knit, and straight legs, 

 standing well on small, strong feet ; full, long 

 body, square and broad, with a straight back 

 and under line. 



If one has a mortgage on his home, seek 

 the help of the hog and he will raise it ; if 

 one covets legitimate things, seek first his aid 

 and these things will soon come ; if one longs 

 for luxuries he will bring them. Debts he 

 will pay, lands he will improve, homes he will 

 enlarge, children he will educate. These 

 things the hog has clone ten thousand times, 

 and he will do them again, even better and 

 more quickly, if one will but gi\'e him one half 

 of the care and attention he deserves. 



The hog makes good use of the pasture. 

 Give him the run of the clover field, for he will 

 do no harm there, even when placed among 

 cattle, sheep, and horses. 



When provided with good grazing no other 

 food is required ; he will grow rapidly and 



