The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-10-20
Worcester County Agricultural
Society.
REPORT ON SWINE.

REPORT ON SWINE.
The Committee on Swine submit the follow
ing Report
Your Committee have been highly grati6ed
in the examination of the various animals which
have claimed their particular attention as a
Committee on Swine. The Hog was introduce
ed into this country by the first discoveries OF
this western world, and is a native Of all the
temperate climates of Europe. From the ex-
cellence of its heslI-its prolific nature-its
quick fattening properties-it may, with great
propriety, be considered one of the most
profitable and advantageous of domestic ami
mails Such seems to be the opinion OF the
practical farmers of Worcester County. Al
though a portion of the pens allotted to Swine
were filled with fine anlmals-stiil there were
none exhibited from any town IN the County
except Worcester. Not that the farmers do
not appreciate the value and Importance OF
Hogs but they do not exhibit them in conse-
uuence of :he trouble and Inconvenience of
driving or bringing them any considerable dis
lance. Your Committee are, however, contl-
dent that there might have been a much
larger exhibition ofSwineof a superior quality,
without bringing them any considerable dis
lance.
There was but one Boar in the pens, so that
the competition with this animal did not long
puzzle the Committee. This ANIMAL offered
by Hon. Oliver Fiske, is of the Bedford breed
called in England from whence the race was
imported, the Bedford English Whites or
English Broad Backs, Introduced into this coun-
try by the Duke of Bedford, and sent by him
as present to Gen. Washington. DR.. Fiske
has had the breed about 10 years. The mother
of the family obtained the first premium here
9 years ago. From this breed the best Hogs
in New England originated Your Committee
are of an opinion, although this animal had no
competitor, that the Hon. Oliver Fiske is en-
titled to the first premium of S., for the best
Boar.
There was but one Sow in the pens She was
offered for premium by Mr.. Elisha Flagg of
Worcester. A very beautiful animal and pos
sessing in an eminent degree the fine qualities
of profitable Hog The Committee award to
Mr.. Flagg the first premium for the best Sow,
} $500.
i, On Pigs your Committee had more difficulty
in ascertaining who was entitled to premium.
: Ten Pigs were offered for premium by Messrs.
Salisbury and Willams-two Pigs by Artemas
Ward, Esq-two Pigs by Mr.. Elisha Flagg,
and two by Capt. John F. Clark. Your Com
mttee were at loss to ascertain to whom the
premium should be awarded-but after a con-
f siderable elaboration, have awarded it to
) Messrs. Salisbury and Williams for the best
Pig, $500.
/ Two premiums provided by the Society have
not been awarded for the very best reasonable
cause there were no animals exhibited for them.
Your committee had inconsiderable diff
' Guilty in coming to the result on Pigs such was
the competition. They have endeavored to do
their duty faithfully--if they have satisfied
their fellow citizens, it is all they wish for. On
former occasions the Society have been highly
+. entertained with the interesting and witty re-
r ports of able and ingenious gentlemen. Your
: Committee would not shrink from going the
/ ,ohole hog on this occasion, as they feel conf
t dent that former exhibition has merited a
t stronger and warmer appreciation of the ami.
t mails, considering the number exhibited, than
: the present.
: 1t is not, however, the wish of the Commit
+ tee to bore you with long report-and we will
y close misunderstanding alluded to the most
e useful and profitable breeds of Hogs-by con.
t graduating the Society upon this OCCASION
!: that after careful attention to our duty-we
= have not witnessed a single specimen Of that
$ improbable and slovenly breed of animals
e sometimes delicately called Hogs, by char
table neighbors across the waters, who walk
t on two legs-and the Committee fatter them
}, selves that the breed is nearly quite extinct
t in New England,
y ISAAC DAVIS,
LEWIS BIGELOW, Committee
CYRIIS LELAND