BREEDING AND SELECTION 27 
sight of the importance of utility, he need never hope to achicve 
lasting distinction as a breeder, 
Utility must be viewed from two stand-points: (1) The 
butcher requires an animal that will give him the largest pro- 
portion of valuable meat, and (2) the farmer requires an 
animal that will reproduce its kind in profitable numbers and 
make rapid and economical gains. There would be little use 
in aiming to please the butcher if the animal did not meet the 
requirements of the farmer, but the butcher must not be left 
out of consideration if a really useful animal is to be produced. 
In breeding operations, therefore, both these men must be kept 
in view, and the breeding, feeding, and killing qualities must 
each receive a due share of attention. 
In-breeding.—It is not intended to attempt a general dis- 
cussion of the principles of breeding; but the question of in- 
breeding—that is, the mating of animals that are closely related 
—is of such importance that it is deserving of some notice in 
a publication dealing with swine husbandry. 
Advice of a Breeder—That very successful Berkshire 
breeder, N. H. Gentry, read a paper before the American 
Swine Breeders’ Association, in which he gave his experience 
with in-breeding of Berkshires. Huis experience extends over a 
considerable number of years, and the following statement is 
taken from his paper: 
“Neither in-breeding nor the reverse will be a success un- 
less matings are made with animals suited to each other,— 
that is, having no weakness in common if possible, and as 
much good in common as possible. This, in my opinion, is 
the key to success in all breeding operations, and success will 
come in no other way. In my opinion, in-breeding, as a rule, is 
very good or very bad. If you intensify the blood of animals 
that are good, you do good, but if they are bad, you go wrong 
