CHAPTER XIV. 



WESTERN PRACTICES Continued. 



There are two methods of 

 disposing of thoroughbred hogs 

 in the West private and public 

 sales. Ten or fifteen years prior 

 to this date, by far the largest part 

 of the hogs were sold at private 

 sale, which had some features to 

 WHICH ONE recommend and some to con- 



WILL YOU TAKE? demn. On the whole, I believe 

 the buyer could make a more profitable investment at 

 private sale, for the reason that he was more deliberate 

 and was not influenced by the excitement common at 

 public sales. He had more time to carefully examine 

 and had the advantage of seeing the stock in its every- 

 day clothes, so to speak. 



There was this disadvantage, however, to the 

 buyer. The stock were often culled over quite early 

 in the season, so that to get first choice he was com- 

 pelled to make his selections before the pigs were fully 

 developed, and it often happened that the pig which 

 seemed to be best at the time of making the selection 

 did not develop into the best animal later on. Then 

 the seller was often put to the necessity of entertaining 

 many intending purchasers and sold his pigs one or 

 two at a time, and in this way got his money in small 



