Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-04
Breeds OF Figs.

We extract the following interesting
remarks concerning the various breeds
of pigs, from little work entitled
Domestic Animals published in
London, in 1910. Although but thirty
years have elapsed since the dcscrip-
ton of Berkshires was written, we
hardly think that the breeders of the
present day would accept it as descrip.
tive of their stock. 1t is interesting
however, as showing the estimation in
which the different breeds were held a,
that time, and indicating the modifica.
tions of the various breeds which &C
years OF careful breeding has secured.
There are number of varieties found
IN almost every country, but the mos,
generally esteemed are:
The Chinese breed, originally from
China: OF this breed there are two
varieties, the black and white; both
are small, but have a strong disposition
to fatten, yet seldom weigh more thar
thirty stones of eight pounds wher
two years old. The white are general,
better shaped than the black; but they
are neither so hardy nor SO prolific
Both are very small limbed, round in
the carcass, thin skinned, and finel,
br1stled and they possess the valuable
property Of fattening on a compare
lively small quantity of food; SO thai
though they do not answer we'll TO,
hams or bacon, they are valuable a,
roasters. There is a mixed breed VA
r1ously spotted with black and white,
which are remarkably prolific, are good
nurses, and with sufficient care will
bring up two itters within a year
Many crosses of this pig are truly val
liable and there few of our small
breeds that are not, to a greater or less
degree, indebted to them for thei1
compactness Of form and aptitude tt
fatten.
The Berkshire breed is of q sandy o.
white color, with brown or black spots
the sides broad, the body we'll formed
and the legs short. The best speci
mems of this breed are without bristles
The skin < IS remarkably thin, the flesh
we'll favored and the bacon is of 8
superior quality. The hogs attain O
very large size. This breed ia now
pretty generally dispersed over the
whole kingdom, and the crosses arf
extremely numerous.
The Essex half-black pigs, raised b,
Lord Western, which have acquired &c
much celebrity, are descended from
the Berkshire stock, and NAV be reck.
oncd among the finest breed in this
country. They are black and white
short haired, fine skinned, broad and
deep in the belly, full in the hind.
l,larters, and light in the bone and
oifai: They are good breeders, but arc
considered as. bad nurses. They arf
said to grow fast, and of an excellent
quality of meat.
The Sussex breed is a variety of tho
same kind. They are quick feeders
but are smaller than the Berkshire AMI
the bone is too large.
Tie Dishley breed are remarkabl,
Inc boned and delicate, and are sup
posed to be descended from crosses u
the Berkshire and Chinese.
The Woburn breed is variety in.
fToduccd by the Duke of Bedford. They
;''r OF various colors, and we'll. formed:
hardy, and very prolific we'll inclined
~ fatten, attaining to nearly twice the
SIZE and weight OF some other hog.
within the same given period.
The Hampshire variety is generally
white, but sometimes spotted the neck
and carcass are long, and the body long.
or and tlatter than the Berkshire pigs :
but they fatten kindly, to consider.
able size aud weight, and make excel
lent bacon.
The Nortlamptons answer particular.
y we'll for ,lairics.
The Shropshire breed appears to be
variety OF the last named, fattenine
t." ~ large size both nrc favorits with
'''o distillers. They have been muci,