Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-18
knowing who he is, and learning where he
got his stock
A ssasoNABLE HOG TALK.

that Texas is soon to become the greatest
PORK state Us well as the greatest
cotton state of the Union. This being the
case we may admit without apology the
following substance of hog talk by Mr..
c. o. wilkins, as something entirely sea-
sonable just now.
Mr. Wilkins says the time is now on for
every wide-awake Texas farmer who con-
templates raising hogs to begin casting
about for suitable breeding stock. Some
may need only male to head their herd:
others will need to buy full start of hogs;
that is, foundation for the coming herd.
Old farmers may have already decided how
and where they can buy to the best ad-
vantage. The new buyers are undecided,
and apt to make mistakes. For many it
would be advisable to visit some of the
prominent hog-raisers in this or other states
and take notes of what is going on. Such
visits would prove good schooling for the
beginner.
The fairs, too, are educators, but scarcely
true ones, for the stock is over-fed and in
too high condition to properly represent
breeding stock. In order to make good
selections for breeding purposes, one should
buy animals in breeding condition. The
general public is not satisfied with hogs on
exhibition unless they are fat, but the
buyer should not pc influenced by this pub
lie demand to such an extent as to buy
stock for breeding purposes because 1t looks
so well and takes premiums.
Fat can cover and is made to cover q null
titude of imperfections. 1t not only covers
faults, but breaks down the best qualities
of breeding stock. A man cannot see in a
fat animal what it will be when low in flesh,
but he should be able to see in the animal in
| breeding condition what its possibilities are
when fat. If he cannot, he had better let
someone else purchase his breeding stock.
The danger OF disappointment in buy ing
fat animals is much greater if the old ami
| mails are bought that have been fatted and
reduced in turn to breeding condition.
There is also much danger of disappoint-
| ment in buying Dung animals fatted for
show. 4 breeder Of experience can usually
| tell whether the feeding has been over
done. For his own part Mr.. Wilkins
would always prefer going directly to the
farm of the breeder, for his stock, even
though it did cost something little extra
to do so. He could better understand what
he was doing by seeing the stock in its ma
tive haunts and learning how it has been
treated. With the stock before him, and a
knowledge of how it has been grown, he
would expect to make a wise selection, and
one that he could make do well for him
| when removed to his own farm.
Not few persons are disappointed in the
development of stock purchased on account
of their iguor ance of how the stock has
been bred and cared for. In purchasing, a
man should be governed by the promise of
usefulness that the animal gives rather
than by beauty and symmetry in form. To
| the experienced breeder the promise of
| usefulness is the only factor in determining
| theebeauty of an animal.
By the way, thought has just occurred
to US that we may here present for the con-
sideration of all concerned. 1t may be said
| that the hog industry is, as yet, compare
lively new thing for Texas. The great
packing house at Fort Worth can be safely
regarded as its most prominent center, SO
far. Much of the stock brought to that es
| tablishment is of inferior grade, and hence
| does not bring the success to the owner that
| better breeds would bring, but it has
brought success, nevertheless, and has
therefore stimulated the raiser to renewed
efforts with better breeds. How would it
do, then, for the packery to run in connec-
ton with its business an extensive hog
ranch, at which its customers could pur-
chase at reasonable figures their starts in
such better breeds as are known to be well
suited to the hog industry in Texas? Most
persons who sell hogs to the packery visit
the establishment, and while there would
buy their supplies if the concern was pre-
pared to furnish them. The packery could
afford to sell extremely low, for it is to the
special interest of the concern to have as
many hogs of good grade raised in Texas
as possible.
Nothing of this kind has been limited at be-
fore, that we know of, but we cannot help
feeling that we see in it grand opportunity
for the pacllery and most decidedly good
thing for Texas. Buying fine hogs at such
an establishment would be something en-
tirely different from buying hogs OF a mere
Spectator, so to speak. Apackery hog
would be sold at reasonable profit, for the
concern wants the good hogs raised in the
country, and the purchaser could promise
himself, on the same line of reasoning, that
the stock " as exactly as represented.
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