102 FoBTT Yeaes' Experience or a Pbaotical Hog Man. 



soil, keeping this hole rather thick in mud, and adding 

 some wood ashes. 



Many showmen are in the habit of clipping the hair of 

 their older animals when they do not shed off in time. While 

 this, in some instances, looks better than an extremely 

 coarse coat of hair, it always shows every little unevenness 

 in the flesh of the animal. This practice is more common 

 among the Poland-China showmen than any other breed 

 I believe, yet I have seen some show animals come into the 

 ring that were closely clipped, showing almost no hair and 

 sprayed in oil, that really I think were not showing as well 

 as' though not clipped, for the reason that little uneven 

 places could be plainly seen along the back and sides, evi- 

 dence to the Judge that they did not flesh as evenly as they 

 should, and would in a way, militate against them. 



Before entering the show ring or as early after arriv- 

 ing on the Fair grounds as possible, the herdsman should 

 take a hand clipper and clip the long hairs off the edges- 

 of the ears and about the nose and jaw of the hogs and also 

 clip the tail clean from the brush back to the tail head, giv- 

 ing a much more finished appearance to the animal than 

 though this was neglected. The above suggestions prop- 

 erly followed and the bringing of the herd to the shows in 

 a thoroughly docile, well mannered condition, add much 

 to their credit while in the show ring. It is pretty hard 

 for a Judge to properly examine an aged boar or one even 

 younger, if he is brought into the ring with four or five men, 

 each bumping him around with a short hurdle — the boar 

 certainly is not showing. to the best advantage. 



DRESSING. 



A nice dressing to use after the hogs are fitted and in 

 show condition, before entering the ring, is made as follows i 



Take a good quality of cotton seed oil, adding enough 

 wood alcohol to thoroughly cut and make a nice thin easy 

 running dressing. After the hog is thoroughly washed and 

 his skin is clean apply with a, brush and rub it in 

 thoroughly. 



One of the most detestable dressings that I have ever 

 come in contact with as Judge at the great shows is made 

 of oil and lamp black. The animals, as they come into the 



