50 A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 



fixed and definite type, the offspring will also be inferior, 

 and profitless. 



SELECTION AND CARE OF BOARS. 



The prudent planter is careful to select his planting seeds 

 from well developed, prolific plants, and, each year, saves 

 the best seed for future planting, recognizing the law which 

 pervades the whole vegetable kingdom, that "like begets 

 like." This law is equally applicable to the animal king- 

 dom, and should be as carefully observed, but has been 

 sadly neglected by the farmers of Georgia. 



It is the generally received opinion among stock breed- 

 ers, that the boar exerts a controlling influence upon the 

 offspring. This is especially true, when a pure bred 

 boar is used with a grade, or common sow, and hence, the 

 selection of the male animal is of prime importance to the 

 Georgia farmer, as he must look, mainly, to the intro- 

 duction of full blood boars to be used on the common 

 sows of the country, for the improvement of his stock. 

 He must remember that the defects, as well as the good 

 qualities of the parent, are propagated in the offspring. 

 The boar should, therefore, be healthy, vigorous, and, as 

 nearly as possible, perfect in form, having the most de- 

 sirable parts well developed, and he should be of a breed 

 so well established as to propagate, uniformly, his peculiar 

 type. The only breeds, from which, selection may be safely 

 made, as being well established, and adapted in character- 

 istics, including color, for farm hogs, are the Essex, Berk- 

 shire, Poland China, and Jersey Reds. The Jersey Reds 

 will, perhaps, be best for crossing, where woods range is 

 relied upon as the main support of the growing hog. The 

 boar should be masculine in form, but without too great 

 enlargement about the shoulders. The most valuable parts, 

 such as the ham, side,^nd jowls, should be well developed, 

 the ribs well arched, giving broad back, and well-rounded 

 body, affording ample room for the vital organs, and, conse- 

 quently, a vigorous constitution. He should be thrifty, 



