The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-10

IN the main that prices were established
solely on the actual worth OF the sale
stock Had there been few loads OF
fat prime heavy hogs on sale they would
have prompetly elevated the top stand
ard several points.
Cattle this week. so far, have fallen off
in supply and the quality of stock offer
ed. There is d good demand for cattle
OF all classes, especially good fat butch
er stock, and none of this class will ever
go begging.
Politics has been the ruling passion
all about the yards and packing house
the past few days. but now the game is
all over, affairs at both places have set
tied down TO their usual normal basis
and business is once more going on at the
former healthy gait.
Buffalo Review: Evidently the feeders
of hogs throughout Michigan. Indiana
and Ohio are long on hogs OF the un-
matured kind, and short on feed, judg-
ing from the quality 81 the hogs that are
coming forward at present. A strictly
fancy load of good weight hogs being
in the nature OF a decided exception.
IMPROVING SWINE
1--we Stock Indicator: One or the prom
inent and encouraging features that
marks the present condition of the pure
bred swine industry is the disposition
manifested by buyers TO be more exact
ing in their demands and TO see that
they are getting their moneys worth.
There is a tendency TO judge of animals
more by what they have done or are
likely TO do in the breeding pen than by
the achievements of their ancestors in
the show or sale ring. Good breeding IS
valued. as 1t ought 10 be, and fashiona-
Bile breeding still has its influence, as IL
always must have with buyers who look
forward to its effects on the future sale
OF the get. but individuality is having
more weight, and careful, sensible breed
ers are not disposed 70 use an animal
merely on the strength of the price his
sire or dam sold for. This is a healthy
symptom, and breeders in whom il is well
developed will be able TO keep on improv-
ing their herds, getting rid of defects and
weak places and strengthening good
points for many years 10 come. No man
has ever YET seen a breed that was per-
feet, for as the breed advances ideals
become higher in the standards they i'm
pose and the same is true of herds The
progressive breeder thinks that If he
could improve the flank, say, in his herd,
he would be satisfied that il would be
about perfect, but when that IS done he
feels that he would like little better
feet, and so on. The work of improve
ment is never done. The ideal of today
may be attained tomorrow, but not that
Of tomorrow. The way thoughtful breed
ers are seeking TO do tomorrow's work is
by keeping up the standard OF individual
excellence to the highest notch, seeking
II in the BEST blood TO be found but
not accepting even the best blood if the
excellence that should accompany it is
not there. The principles that control con-
tiHued improvement now are just the
same as they have always been. The
IDEAS just advanced are a part of them,
and for the rest, the breeder who has
the highest Skill in mating, feeding and
caring for his herd will be most success
full in carrying on this work Of improv-
ment, for these are all the law and the
prophets.
Exchange: There is a disposition on
the part of the farmers of the state TO
produce bacon hogs in Difference to the !
supposed demand of western pork pack
ers. At least a large number Of POO
pound hogs are now being marketed from
the state than ever before. Those grow
ing them report a good many advantages
with the production of lighter
hogs. The danger from disease extends
over a shorter period, the gains up to 2G0
pounds are made more rapidly and with
less feed, and the light hogs are less
to heat and cold than the
heavy lard hog. A large proportion of
the reports to the board indicate that
in a great number of counties the lean
hog will be the product Of the future.
This is the result of a so-called cam 4
paign of education made by the packing !
interests in the west, wherein was shown /
the advantage of putting hogs on the /
market at the lighter weights.