Forty Years' Experience of a Practical Hog Man. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Author of this book has not undertaken to write a 

 thesis on the swine breeding business, nor to give the his- 

 tory of the various breeds, but having commenced the busi- 

 ness of swine breeding when quite a young man and follow- 

 ing it for practically forty years, he has been requested to 

 write this book, along practical lines of breeding, feeding, 

 care and selling of hogs, both for the market and for breed- 

 ing purposes. 



Starting with a pair of young pigs way back in the dim 

 distance, the business of breeding hogs was commenced by 

 the writer. Knowing nothing whatever in the beginning, 

 the only way anything has been learned has been by actual 

 experience during all these years, finding out each day 

 something that must be learned. This experience has been 

 very costly, but that learned at the greatest expense one 

 never forgets. 



For many years the writer did all his own work in the 

 business of swine breeding and feeding as well as showing, 

 and he gained in knowledge as he gained in experience. 1 

 cannot recall any labor or duties connected with the feed- 

 ing and breeding of swine that I have not carried on per- 

 sonally, and step by step have grown in the business from 

 the smallest possible beginning until a trade has been built 

 up that extends throughout the entire United States and 

 many foreign countries. Being of a temperament that never 

 gives up, and with a determination to stick to the business 

 through thick and thin, I have never weakened one iota 

 from my determination to make it a success and a per- 

 manent business in which there is practically no limit. 



Early I decided to follow the pure-bred business, selling 

 principally to breeders, and feeding for market those that 

 did not come up to a certain standard of excellence that is 



