The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-28
BY G. R. SAMSON,
Animal Husbandry Department, Oregon
Agricultural College.

1T is questionable whether any one
j should engage in producing pure
bred swine Who has not served q
successful apprenticeship with grades.
There are so many practical details with
which to familiarie ones self that can
be learned so much more economically
with grades, that the foregoing state
ment seems reasonable and conserva-
tive. The purpose of the breeder of
pure-bred swine is primarily to produce
boars which by legitimate advertising
and lots of eloquence he may sell to
pork producers at price which will
permit him to continue his existence
upon the earth and his business of pro.
ducing boars.
Some sows will, like the girl babies
in India, enter the cots in which pray
ers have ascended for the advent of
male children only; but most of these
female swine could be permitted to con.
tinue their tax upon the forebearanee,
OF their owners until they are old
enough to become food for men.
The time is not yet, but it very soon
will be when plenty Of breeders in Ore,
gon shall raise pure-bred swine. Then
those who should have stayed out of
the business will most likely suffer
more or less financial loss. Those who
are not producing boars which are good
enough to improve good grade herds,
and even those who are not good ad.
vertisers, will find that their wares are
drug on the market.
Much Interest in Production.
Up to the present time conditions
have been peculiarly favorable to pro-
ducers of purebred swine. They have
not been too numerous and there has
been tremendous interest in pork pro-
duction And most of these producers
and would-be producers of pork have
needed thc-gospel of good sires. The re-
suit has been an active demand for
boars Too often the demand has ex-
ceeded the supply Of good ones so that
men have been induced to embark in
the production of pure breds without
proper conception Of their work. Every
day letters come to the office asking
where sows of various breeds can be
had and frequently some remark is
dropped which indicates that they must
be had cheap.
Too frequently these letters show an
absolute lack of knowledge OF the most
commonplace details of hog raising. In
answering these letters in as conscien.
tious a manner as possible, we often
wonder how long the money these men
have will keep them going.
Occupation Ancient one.
Swine raising is an ancient occupa-
zion, even If not counted honorable By
0e none less ancient Jews, and be.
cause of the economy with which it can
De produced, pork will likely be staple
grocery for a long time to come. But
the production Of pure bred breeding
stCcK Is an exlgency OF modern condi-
tious, to whicn those who have already
made success of raising market swine
are best fitted. The wealthy man who
has never raised grade swine and who
takes fancy to some pure breed may
win some prizes, but he is not likely
to leave permanent imprint on the
swine in which he chances to place
boa.s Such man often serves his
community well by making available
for breeding purposes animals which he
brings in, but it is rare that he has
the judgment or good fortune to mate
wisely enough tc produce pigs which are
good enough to improve the breed,
Swine breeders, like breeders Of ether
kinds OF livestock, sre usually to the
manor bora. Acatensss of observation,
Judgment to determine what viii hap.
pen before It does happen (th,s JUDI
nAnt based o. wsil grounded kaovl-