160 PoKTY Yeaks' Experience of a Practical Hoq Man. 



I strongly urge the show ring as a means, not only of education for 

 the breeder, but of building up a substantial business. 



The reason I suggest that the beginner commence his show career at 

 the County Pairs, is from the fact that I passed through all these little 

 troubles when I was a great many years younger than I am now, and I 

 know what the difficulties are for a beginner. It is hardly expected that 

 a young breeder who has never followed the practice of showing, and 

 who has probably not spent a very large amount of money in the foun- 

 dation of his herd, win at State Fairs and Expositions where only few 

 great show animals cap get in the money. 



Never will I forget the time way back in the 70's, when I made my 

 first show at a State Fair. It was at the Illinois State Pair, when it 

 went around on wheels, and that year was located at Freeport. I had 

 only been in the business a year; knew nothing of what it required to 

 even have a chance of getting into the money; but nevertheless I was 

 full of enthusiasm and overflowing with ignorance. I fitted up a portion 

 of a herd which I thought was '"some pigs,'" but found, much to my 

 profit eventually, that they were only ordinary. Starting out with much 

 pride and having already figured the amount of money I would bring 

 home by adding up the amounts in the premium lists, I found after the 

 Fair was over, that I was really a. wiser man and richer in knowledge 

 but poorer financially, than when I arrived on the grounds, beaming with 

 confidence. 



The main thing is in starting this business and going at it with the 

 determination to build up a business. I believe a farmer could hardly 

 raise enough hogs and pigs in a year to supply the demand for the fancy 

 pork products that he could put up, as the consumption of pork products 

 is constantly increasing from year to year. 



We must remember that every morning there are over three thou- 

 sand new mouths to feed. in America, and practically every one of them 

 to eat the product of the American hog and enjoy it. Meat production 

 increases wealth, and the grain products of the farm can all be utilized 

 in the production of high-class pork. 



We have no animal of greater economic value than the pig; he ma- 

 tures quickly and brings ready returns. If there was no money in pork, 

 the farmers of the West would not grow eighty-five million dollars worth 

 each year, to supply foreign nations, besides keeping enough at home 

 to supply the demand of our own people. 



The author of this book has not undertaken to write a thesis on the 

 swine breeding business, nor to give the history of the various breeds, 

 but having commenced the business of swine breeding when quite a 

 young man and following it for practically forty years, he has been 



