746 SWINE 



Farmer, in 1898, reports on a three-quarter blood Chester White 

 sow, five years of age, that during the full period of her life far- 

 rowed 78 pigs, an average of almost 20 pigs a year. As a rule 

 the sows have excellent udders and make good mothers, at least 

 as good as other breeds. 



The prepotency of the Chester White is very marked. The 

 white color is transmitted with great uniformity, and a boar of this 

 breed may be expected to impress himself on his crossbred or 

 grade offspring to a noteworthy degree. 



Families of Chester White swine. Until very recent years not 

 much attention was given by Chester White breeders to the devel- 

 opment of special families. Blood lines were very generally min- 

 gled, and the breed was developed in a quiet way. Present-day 

 breeders seldom refer to families as descended from • females of 

 note, but rather emphasize important sires. Among the families 

 looked upon with special favor are the St. Elmo, Schoolmaster, 

 Kossuth, Pathfinder, Combination, and Pocket Piece. 



Chester White sires of distinction, as might be presumed, do 

 not date back many years in the history of the breed. The last ten 

 years have given us most of our knowledge of the Chester White 

 sires of importance. Among them the following are regarded with 

 special favor: Wonder 18069, Pocket Piece 200015, Schoolmaster 

 24325, Wildwood Prince 28531, Chickasaw Kossuth 20279. 



The prices paid for Chester White pigs until recently were very 

 modest compared with those paid for other prominent breeds. In 

 the past breeders have largely relied upon private sales. In 1893 

 S. H. Todd sold the boar pig Banker 2293, that was first in class 

 at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, for ^150. This 

 Mr. Todd claimed to be the highest price paid for a Chester White 

 up to that time. Early in 191 3 the boar Pocket Piece 200015 

 was sold by J. W. Brendel of Indiana to Maple Farm of Illinois 

 for ^500. In 191 5 the boar Schoolmaster 24325 was bought by 

 Crandall Brothers of Michigan for ^800. On February 22, 191 7, 

 J. L. Barber sold the sow Queen Viola, grand champion of 

 the breed at the National Swine Show of 1916, for ^1000 to 

 Albert C. Brecher of Iowa. The greatest auction sale of Chester 

 Whites up to 1918 occurred at Ames, Iowa, on January 24, 1918, 

 when W. T. Barr sold 47 head for ^9582.50, an average of 



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