The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-06-30
Elam Nc Gmeses Earmer.
Tho ESee-s9ts History, sc.


in most of the temperate regions OF Eu-
rope, Asia and Africa.
In England and Scotland, few cen
turies since, the wild boar chase was a
sport IN great rs2u'e with tbs nokles.
Shakespeare describes il with graphic ac-
curacy. And if in those countries men
are now better employed, the sport has
new become obsolete. 1t is still prae7
;ised in India, and in those districts of
Europe in which :he animal maintains
his hold. lie is now common in the ex-
tensive forests Of France, Germany Prus-
sia and Hungary, as well as in Spain, and
some other countries.
The hog docs not appear to baye been
indigenous to our country, but was
brought hither by the early yoyagers
from the old world, each bringing them
from tiseiy own coantry and in the East
ern States especially it is said few of the
breeds still retain traces of the old Eng
Hsh character From its nature and hab-
its, fhe hog was the most useful and prof
liable Of alb animals bred by the early
settlers. 1t was their sursst resources dur
ing the first years of toll and hardship.
1t arrived earlier at maturity required
less care, sought out for the most part its
pwn food, was the least SUBJECT To- aegi-
deats and disease in new situation, and
therefore best repe4d any portion of at
tention bestowed or breeding and rear
ing it.
Until within feR years very little at
tention has been paid to the breeds of our
farm stock and hQgs, being considered
nn inferior species of domestic animals,
have been the last TO engage the attention
of The farmers, and even at the present
day, in many districts of our country, the
old unprcitable kinds of this animal CON
tlnue to prevail. Indeed, systematic
breeding, with rieW to improve the form
and value of the animal, may be said to
have hardly commenced among us, the
improvements, which are porceptible be-
ing rather the fruits of European than
American skill.
A common error IN this country, has
been to regard more the size Qf the ami
NAL than its symmetry on good points
70 estimate breed according to the great
weight it could be made to attain, rather
than the profit with which it would b.
fitted to the hands of the butoher--the
most material point to the farmer But
experience is teaching US new lesson on
this head Butchers now Judge of an an
imal according to the good points or most
valuable meat, which it carries. Breed
ers have learned to prefer those which
with given quantity of food will lay on
the most meat. And the consumer has
learned, too, that meat that shows the
most solid fat, is neither the most healthy
the most savory, nor the most eQopOmic9]
II is the due QdmiXturo Of fat and lean,
pr the prevalence OF what is termed ''fat
lean such as is seen in the DeYonshire
Ok and the South Down sheep-that gives
the greatest value to the butchers meat.
IL are perfectly satisfied. from long
experience, that the best and most profit
able breed of swine for the farmer, is that
breed which will nearly mature at eight
10 twelve months old; and then weigh,
when well fatted and dressed, from 250
20 800 lbs. \ pig that has to be win
tered and kept till sixteen to eighteen
months old before fatted, rarely pays for
itself, at the ordinary price of pork and
the average weight Of thGsa, in the puit-
ed States, even at year and half old,
we do not believe exceed 800 lbs.
We never liked the long-legged, SLAB
sided, lop-carod, razor-backed grunters,
except for the race-course, for the reason,
that they eat too much food to keep them
in "good working order" For porkers
give us the short-leggcd, small-boned,
round bodied, compact, quiet, contented,
hearty pig, with sufficient good sense to
know when he has eaten enough, and
when to 90 and lie down to be rubbed or
eurried; AID, withal, hog with a re-
markably good disposition in short, g
hog--a real genuine Suffolk.
The Suffolk is a hearty, quiet, and
thrifty breed. They grow rapidly, are
docile, coptented, and good looking. They
are white, well formed, compact, short
legged, hardy animals, equal in point Of
value TO the best. BY crossing with the
eoarser or slower growing sort, they will
much improve the latter.
In our cities and villages, an immense
amount of pork is consumed in a fresf
state; and for this purpose, small hog.
are MUCH better adapted than large ones
They should be small -boned, not over fat
but meaty, plump. fne-grained pigs
weighing when dressed, from fifty to onC
hundred pounds. 1t is of great conso
aHenee, also, that they should be varie
ties which give good favored or we'll tast
ed meat. There is vast difference il
swine, in this respect, though some per
aous will not acknowledge it. For the
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