The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-08-31

Hogs AZ the FRira.
Il can not be denied that exhibits
Of swine nj the small and large fairs
Of the country have done a great deal
or good In teaching farmers the types
n the various pure breeds OF swine and
IN stimulating them 10 attempt 81 I'm.
piovemsnt Of their home herd and
fully develop the pigs by adequate
feeding and good care, such as 4
given TO show animals By the profos.
slonal exhibitor and his assistants. Il
Is no less true that the exhibits at
most Of the state fairs are growing IN.
wieldy and less instructive 10 visitors
than would be the case we're 30 or 60
per cent Of the animals excluded from
the exhibition. Breeders evidently
bring far more hogs TO the fair than
they have any intention OF showing,
and indeed many men show but three
or four hogs out OF an entry Of per-
haps ten TO twenty head. This, we
think, Is correct but we may be a
little on a to exact figures. The
principle Is at least correct. in that
many Of the hogs entered are not
brought forward Tor competition. but
are merely brought to the fair with
the hope Of finding a purchaser. This
Is all right for the breeder and per
haps good for the prospective buyer 10
a few Instances. but Il j. not for the
general good OF the visitor. who
wants the best possible chance 70 see
the best hogs and compare them. SO
that be may learn correct lessons as
10 best types and Improvements that
are being made from year to year in
the various breeds OF swine.
Times are changing. The time was
was when the number OF head OF swine
AZ a show was taken as the criterion
OF success The management came "a
the conclusion that where a great
many breeders and a vast number OF
swine came together there surely
would be the kess possible asrreea.
ton % swine for the education OF the
farming public. But they erred Ia
this estimate, for we have seen a bet
ter show Of swine where but two oi
three hundred were exhibited than
WAS the case where q thousand head
crowded the buildings 10 overlooking
When but a few hundred we're shown
they we're the pick % the breeders
home lot Of hogs. Nov that many
hundreds are shown a few Of them
are fine specimens. and the majority
are Of medium or inferior quality and
brought forward 20 sell. Il s. good
that the breeder has an opportunity
10 sen his hoes at the state fair. but Il
Is unfortunate that the present
method % exhibiting allows the ex
hibitor TO fl any number OF peas he
cares TO pas for and with any Kind 81
hos he fancies viii sell 10 E0od ad
vantage. We DO not desire 10 cur
tail the opportunities Of the breeder
but We DO Wish 20 improve those Of
the visitor and student
To this end the management Of
every fair should set apart aecommo
dations for hogs intended for sale. hui
not Tor show. The houses for show
hogs should be kept clean. well dis
infected, deodorized und ventilated. &c
that visitors mar 20 the rounds IN
comfort. and the hogs be less exposed
10 the ravagos OF contagious discasa
Into these show houses a single oz
hibitor should not DO allowed 20 put
more than sufficient swine 10 give him
one. or al most. tvo or three. candF
dates for honoFs IN each event Were
this done the visitor could then make
an Intelligent study Of tho wlnuers
and. by looking az the pick OF the
swine. would best educate himself 20
improvements taking place Ia types
and among the Different breeds The
work OF the judges would also be
greatly lessened. for & takes time "a
weed out the poor hogs until the good
ones remain 20 be given the priaes
Another necessary Improvement In
connection with the exhibition OF hogs
at the state fairs Is better drainage
OF the sites of the hos houses. At
some fairs should a rain come. the
ground about the hog houses ia speed
ny trAmplod to a mush and visitors
can not got about comfortably With.
out rubber boots. II would be a com.
parativoly easy matter to properly
drain such places and 10 provide side
walks built high enough above the
ground 90 keep them from becoming
waiorlogred and Undiscovered during
a act spell lastly 4 viii be well
when hogs a be housed according
10 elassos ~ well ~ breeds, but much
simpler things have 20 be properly at.
tended 20 before such q radical meas,
urc as this can be lnsiituted-k s.
Alexander In Farmers Review.
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