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so unwise that they think it is just as well to breed from a boar the 

 service of which they usually get for nothing, as to patronize the use 

 of a good thoroughbred for which one or two dollars is charged. 



We have had some experience in breeding pure blood hogs first and 

 last, and while we would not discourage anyone from engaging in the 

 business with a view to supplying the demands for such stock for 

 breeding and for the purpose of fattening, still we would especially 

 recommend such breeds as the Sutfolk, Essex, small and medium 

 Yorkshire, and Berkshires to cross with the common stock of the 

 country. No matter how coarse and common the sows may be, if bred 

 to a good boar of one of the above breeds, the result will be the most 

 satisfactory. Why? Because the offspring will possess all the good 

 qualities of the sire. These are: 1st, gentleness; 2d, small bones 

 and light offal ; 3d, good feeders, making the most of what they con- 

 sume ; 4th, easy to fatten at any age. These, with the strong, 

 vigorous constitutions which they receive from their dam, will make 

 them the ne plus ultra of a family pig for fattening. 



SELECTION OF THE MALE. 



The selection of the male in breeding is of the first importance. 

 Not only should he be a thoroughbred, but what is of still greater 

 importance, he should be well bred. We are sorry to observe that 

 many worthless animals are saved and sold for breeding purposes for 

 the reason of their "fancy pedigree," or because they were from 

 imported stock, or were raised b}- Col. So-and-So, or out of stock 

 that cost so many hundreds or perhaps thousands. Too many speci- 

 mens of this class have found their way among the farmers. There 

 could be but one result of breeding from such stock. For this reason 

 pure bloods are not looked upon with that favor to which their merits 

 entitle them and which they would have received had it not been for 

 the dissemination of this worthless stock. 



We do not believe it best to breed from so-called native male 

 animals when the use of good thoroughbred males suitable, that pro- 

 duce such vastly superior results, can be secured without too much 

 trouble or expense. But poor as these native scrubs sometimes may 

 be, we know of no animal that is quite as worthless as a thoroughbred 



