St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-13
WHAT BREED OF SWINE?
1t Is as Important as in Other
Classes Of Animals.

This has been a problem with begin
ners in swine husbandry. as well as
some older and more experienced farm
ers. writes John NJ. Stonebraker in the
Practical Farmer. who have been un-
successful in the business. To hear one
man eXtol a special breed of his fancy,
and so on until we have the whole cat
alOgue of the different breeds eulogiZed
TO the highest point of perfection, one
would indeed be it a dilemma. and
each of these in may be are act
ing in good faith, although it is
often done with selfish motive
and to accomplish personal ends, and
with the intention to deceive and mis-
lead. Is it any wonder the inquiry goes
Out-What breed of swine shall | raise?
We look around us and see a very sue
ceSSful breeder of Poland-Chinas, an
other of Berkshires, Chester Whites.
Duroc Jerseys, and many other distinct
i've breeds, which might lead one to
think that any of the breeds are good
enough. We should cast our eyes little
further and count up or observe the
failures of many breeders who try TO
raise certain specific breeds and inquire
into the causes Of their failures. Fail
ure in swine breeding Is 10 exception
to the general rule of other stock
men who breed other classes of
stock. 1t is not every horse breeder
that can make Il success in breeding
trotters or roadsters, or draft horses and
other different breeds. 1t seems each
man has a popularity or natural gift
who makes a success of his breeding
stud, and it is undoubtedly none the
less true with swine breeders. We must
first find out our ability TO handle GER
tain breeds and TO know if the climate,
soil and all other requirements are con-
genial to the breed We nave undertaken
to raise; if not, our time and expense
are lost. and disappointment will re-
suit. You 90 into some OF the hllly
Eastern states and you find the Chester
Whites predominant. and in other sec
tons the BerkShires prevail, and the
POland-Chinas have a still wider range.
and DO doubt they are more largely
I bred to-day than any other distinct
breed, and receive less criticism; but
the fact remains that they do not fill the
place in every domain of this wide
world; they are not there, and are
found wanting. But where climate
and other influences are cOngenial they
are profitable hog.
The DurOc Jerseys are becoming pop
ular. and their friends claim they are
the most productive and the best suited
to wider range IF climatic influences,
and will thrive under less favorable cir
cumstanceS than others; but, notwith
standing ali these facts, the breeder, tC
| be successful, must be wide awake and
love his calling sufficiently well to pros
per. To keep abreast of the times. il
might be necessary TO be schoOled as al
expert in that Score-card craze or hobby
and again it might be well to guard
against all fanaticism. 1t is the well
balanced mind that is the most success
full in his profession, be it as breeder
of stock or any other occupation. What
breed of swine to raise is a difficult
question to answer. The fancy of the
breeder. together with the locality or
climate, all go to help decide the ques-
tiOn