104 HARRIS ON THE PIG. 



healthier lot, and ultimately made much the heaviest 

 pork. If we had had no other experience than this, we 

 should certainly condemn thorough-bred pigs. But we 

 know that the fault was not in the breed, but in the treat- 

 ment which the sow and her young litter had received. 

 Common pigs are better than improved pigs that have 

 been injured, while young, by neglect and starvation, 

 but the improved pigs, if the mother has been liberally 

 fed, and they themselves are allowed as much food as 

 they require to grow rapidly, will be found altogether su- 

 perior to the common pigs, and vastly more profitable. 



To say that, up to the time they shut them up to fat- 

 ten, the majority of farmers half starve their pigs, will 

 not be considered too strong an assertion by any one who 

 has turned his attention to the subject. And this being 

 the case, it is very evident that the improved English 

 breeds cannot be popular and the same is true of all 

 other improved breeds of animals. We must adopt a 

 better system of farming before we can hope to see the 

 improved breeds of cattle, sheep, and pigs generally in- 

 troduced and fully appreciated. Improved breeds necessi- 

 tate improved farming, and improved farming cannot be 

 very profitable without improved breeds, improved seeds, 

 and improved implements. To tell a poor farmer that " it 

 is just as easy to raise a good animal as a poor one," is 

 telling him what, in his case, is not true. If he 

 thinks he can do so merely by buying one or two im- 

 proved animals to start with, he will soon find out his 

 mistake. He should first improve his farm, and adopt a 

 better system of feeding and management, and then he 

 will find it nearly as easy to raise good animals as pool- 

 ones, and vastly more profitable. 



We are now prepared to consider the breeds of pigs 

 which are most popular in the United States, and may be 

 able to discover the cause of their popularity. 



