The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-02-17

adapting himself to all climates, om-
niverous in its diet, more prolific than
any domestic animal except the rabbit:
easily susceptible Of Improvement and
quickly attaining to maturity. Itifur-
nishes cheaper and larger return of
food for the outlay than any Other AMI
NAL reared on food. In an economical
point of view, the hog occupies prom
inent place, and as source of income
TO the farmer for ready sale and GER
tainty OF remunerative return. is not
surpassed by any other branch of his
varied pursuit. -. q :
Our observation fthe different herds
OF BERKSHIRE hogs while travelling
through the different provinces of Cam
ada and the United States, and those
which. have been recently brought
from England, convinces us that in
speaking Of them as they now exist,
they should be classified; for it Is evil
dent that the different forms manifest
ed would justify it. Whether these
different forms and appearances have
originated from the different States and
ideas of different breeders, or whether
they originated from an infusion of for.
eign blood, we will not determine.
There is no race of hogs which have
been SO rapidly difflsed in the United
States as the Berkshire, and there is no
prominent race in existence of which
there has been so little written, breed
ers relying mainly upon the merits of
the breed itself for its general diffusion.
And under these circumstances it is
remarkable with what rapidity they
have found their way in almost all
parts of the globe. 1t is also remarka-
BILE that every diverse climate to which
they have been subjected has neither
changed their peculiar color, form nor
s sny sf sb 81 Tf6aerai or peculiar charac>
These facts can scarcely be accounted
for upon any other hypothesis than
the great persistency with which they
have been bred in onedirection, giving
to them constitution and an estab-
lished character which is i'm itself able
to resist all the detrimental influences
of diverse climates.
From the frOzen North TO the hottest
South, we find them i'm close pens, or
rambling over the largest fields, main
tanning the same form and general
characteristics.
There are many breeds of swine OF
recent formation that succeed admira-
bly, in some localities, but when sub
jected to climates foreign to those i'm
which they received their existence,
become Improbable and soon pass
away. This cannot be said of the Berk-
shire; they seem to adapt themselves
to almost any circumstances under
which they may be placed.
Many attempts have been made to
improve the berkshire by an Infusion
of foreign blood, but no instance is re-
corded where snch improvement has
been effected; yet many valuable i'm
prOvements have been made upon 49, 49,
er breeds by an infusion of Berkshire
blood; but 10 such improvements have
yet proved equal to the pure well bred
Berkshire.
They particularly excel in their hams,
which are round, full and heavy, and
contain a large proportion of lean, ten
der and juicy meat, of the best flavor.
The great desideratum which most
farmers seek to acquire i'm a hog is a
large amount of flesh i'm short time,
with small amount of food. This is
all proper and very desirable point to
be gained, but the requirement of the
points should never he at the sacrifice
of the quality of the flesh, or the SYM
metry of the animal But an animal
possessing a combination of all these
leading points and embracing symme-
try of form and fineness of flesh, should
be the more desired, and we think after
an experience of fifteen years with the
pure Berkshire, we can justly claim
that the Berkshire embraces more OF
these leading and desirable qualities
than any of the different breeds with
which we have had a varied experience
or any of those breeds which have come
under our observation.
The higher degree to which the
Berkshire has attained, is the result Of
long and consistent skill in breeding
and although they may approximate
all that could be desired in a hog, the
fact that proper skill and care mus
still he used in breeding must not bt
ignored. american Stock Journal.