The Portland daily press., 1874-10-09
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD,

Thoroughbred SWINE.
MIR. Alexander Charles writes in reference
to this subject, in the Swine and Poultry
Journal, as follows:
The theory has been advocated and prac-
tice has clearly demonstrated that it is i'm
practicable for the general farmers of the
country to become breeders of fine or prop
erly speaking, thoroughbred stock, with the
idea OF disposing of it at fancy prices. There
may be many reasons ascribed for this, the
principal OF which is that it takes more time
and more capital to start than most of them
are in circumstances TO afford, to say nothing
OF the business being a profession which ae-
qulres more study and experience than most
OF them can give. The breeding of any Of
the improved breeds of swine is, however,
quite different from horses cattle, or sheep,
and we are fully convinced that any farmer
OF the country can become breeder of
thoroughbred swine. and make it remuner-
alive business. Some may say we cannot all
sell them at fancy prices, which is very true,
neither do they need to do so in order to
make it profitable. The man who buys a
short horn cow at $1,000, must necessarily
sell her calf at $500 or $400, or the invest
ment will not be paying one. Such an an
imal will produce only one calf in a year.
The case is quite different with swine. A
farmer at the present day can buy pair of
our improved breeds, at from S35 to $40 ger
pair and with ordinary success will produce
twelve TO eighteen pigs during the year.
Thus it will be seen that he only has to sell
them at $1.50 or$2.00 to be making as much
on the capital invested as the fancy breeder
who is purchasing cattle and horses at $1,000
each and disposing of the produce at $500
per head. Then it is at once apparent to all
that the above prices are not as much as can
be realized for the common scrub hogs of the
country at two or three months old. Then
should he find difficulty in disposing of them
at that age, it will pay him three-fod to keep
them to twelve or fifteen months OF age at
which time they will be hogs weighing up
ward OF 300 pounds, which are worth from
one and one-half to two cents more per
pound, than the scrub hogs brought TO mar
ket.
We ask the careful attention of the reader
10 this matter; we are not writing from a
theoretical standpoint, but from practice of
what we write, knowing that such are daily
occurrences. These being the facts, why
will so many of our farmers persist in keep
ing stock of hogs so well known as the
Prairie Rooters? Some may say they cannot
afford to buy the stock to stalt WITH This
excuse will hold good only in but few cases,
while the prices of all our improved breeds of
swine are so low. The experience of all who
have tried it fully attests that the use of
thoroughbred males in horses, cattle, sheep
or swine, is one of the best paying invest
ments they can enter it. And if it is so in
cattle, then it must be doubly so in swine,
and if those who do not believe in thorough
breeds will use thoroughbred males of any Of
the improved breeds OH their common stock
OF sows, it will soon show marked improve
ment that will in a very sholt time pay
many hundred per cent on the investment.
Surely no objection in regard to cost can be
raised from pursuing this course while the
best breeders of the country are offer ng
choice males from S15 to S25 each.