The Democratic advocate., 1871-07-13
Che farmer.
Various Breeds Of Hogs.

various Breeds OF Hogs.
The following extract from the pro-
ceedings of the Aniericaa Institute Far.
mers' CiaJ we clip from the Rural Aew
Yorker
Courad Wilson, Springvale, N. Y,
asks as to "the relative merits Of the
Suffolk pig and the Chester White; also,
us 10 the cross Of the Chester with the
common pig, as compared with the sim.
liar cross of the Suffolk; aud thirdly, is
there anything TO be gained by crossing
one Of these breeds with the other z"
The Commander called upon Col. Curtis
to reply. Mr.. Curtis said: III should
tell you exactly what / thought should
say the best breed was my own, the Vic
toria. The most fashionable breed to
day is the Berkshire. They are smaller
and better hogs than the old Berkshires
that we're sostrongly recommended when
was boy, which in few years dis
appeared. The improved breed are finer
hogs aud earlier to mature, but the Oh.
lection is the coior-black and white.
When cleaned the skin is discoIorcd
more Or less. Ihey are easy keepers,
and hing extensively advertised, sell at
high prices. The Essex. is a compact,
round, plump little breed, black as
coal, aud the quickest to get their full
growth--about three hundred pounds
OF any kind. The Yorkshire is tho base
Of all improved white breeds, aud they
are excellent hogs Of large size. The
old fashioned Suffolk had too much
China, and were too small and chunk ed
They have run out; at least, l know Of
none.
There is u breed called Suffolk,
which are small Yorkshires, but they
are not common. Then there is still
another Suffolk, called improved which
has been imported aud bred quite ex.
tensively by the Messrs. Stickney. 1t
is popular breed in England, aud they
are louger in the body, have more hair,
and are yellowish white in color. They
are superior kind to cross upon com.
mon hogs, and would improve any native
swine. Their heads should be small;
ears the same. There is very little
souse about them. The Chester White
would doubtless improve the hogs Of
some sections. As this breed generally
runs, the native hogs would have TO be
pretty mean ones to be benefited BY a
cross with the much lauded Chestefs.
They are coarse, lop cared, big eaters,
aud badly mixed. they are white, gen
erally-always should be, and have the
redeeming quality of being good milk.
ers, and consequently good mothers.
The old fashioned, small Suffolk would
probably be bettered by crossing with
them, AS greater size would be obtaina.
BILE, aud larger and more vigorous growth.
There is more humbug about Chester
White hogs than any other breed.
"A very popular kind of hogs now.
a-days is the 80 called Cheshire, origi-
mating in Jefferson county, NY. The
best breeders Of these pigs are now very
properly abandoning this fictitious title,
aud caA them the Jefferson county
swine, which Is more appropriate They
have been bred too close, aud now lack
boue and constitution, which defects can
not be readily remedied. The pigs Of.
ten died in the nest at birth, not having
strength sufficient to help themselves,
and their tails dry up aud drop of,
owing to want Of circuletion. They
are valuable to cross upon native hogs,
aud their offspring will usually be equal
to the improved stock in looks, aud
possessing more stamina, feed better,
aud make more valuable porkers, I. e.,
the breeder gets foer tone and Quail
ty Of meat, with less offal, and the con-
stitotional yigor to deyelope the whole
to complete success. With coarse
slab sided squealcrs, cross with the
Jefferson county, would be immense.
think these hogs have been bred long
enough to merit the distinction Of being
called breed.
Tho Western people believe in big
things, hence they have breed OF their
own, started in Butler county, Ohio.
They look to me like the old time l,erk.
shire, only little more SO. With the
small farmer of the East, where corn is
corn, they will not pay. Out West,
whore transportation is an object, and
it phys to crowd good many bushels Of
coru into one hog aud then iu.o barfel,
these large boncd, big porKefs viii an.
swer. They do not mature early enough
for US. Mr.. Magic has succeeded iu get.
ting these black aud white hogs to meet
the notions Of the farmers OF Ohio, aud
the prairie States. Ii is a mistaken
idea that the 'swill pail makes the breed I
There is such thing as economy Of
food iu swine, aud aptuess TO faticn, and
all the imported breeds excel ia these
qualities over the native. They are su
perior, also, in regard 10 waste. Ii costs
just as much 10 produce snout, ears aud
legs as it does sides, pork OF ham; hence
pigs which have less snout aud more
ham, less ears and more length aud
depth Of sides, less legs and wider
shoulders, are to be preferred. There
Is also mighty difference 10 the skin
and grain Of the meat. The thorough
bred hog has a thin skin and iue-g -graiu
cd flesh. Some Of the Western pork is
not fit to eat, it is SO coarse grained and
aabby, aud rank in taste There is
nothing which will pay the farmer bet.
ter than good breed Of hogs, il not oi
a pure breed. then a judicious crossing
Of such as be has upon better.
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