Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-03
Stock Baisins.
The BERKSHIRE HOG.

Convention, MIR. "A. Is. Allen, OF New \ Ork,
embraces the history of this breed.
|. The committee appointed to report on
the above, respectfully submit That from
the best information they have been able to
obtain on this important subject, they find
that swine Of various colors, forms and sizes,
have existed in Berkshire, Eng, from time
immemorial. That family, however, which
was the foundation Of the present improved
breed, was of a sandy or buff color, about
equally spotted with black; was of large
size slow feeder and did not fully mature
till two and half to three years old. But
as such it was ever highly esteemed for the
greater proportion of lean and fat in its meat
and for the superior weight of its hams and
shoulders; thus rendering the whole carcass
peculiarly we'll fitted for smoking for which
purpose it was said to excel all other Eng
lish breeds.
A colored portrait Of one of the above old
breed of Berkshire swine may be found in
Prof. loves folio work on British Domestic
Animals. The writer of this saw specimens
thus marked, on his first visit to Berkshire
in the year lS4l and again in 1867, but in
form and size like the improved breeds of
the present day.
2. Ho,c the improvement in the breed Of
Berkshire Spine waS made.-Somctime
during the past century, the more enlightened
and enterprising farmers of Berkshire became
aware of the great advantage it would be to
improve their swine. In casting about for
the best kind of males to cross upon their ic.
males for this purpose, tradition afiirms that
they fixed upon the Siamcse boar, then recent
ly imported into England.
3. What is the Siamese Breed Of SVine,
In color we are Informed that it varies in
shade, from a clear jet black, to dark slate,
or deep rich plum 1t is of medium size,
quick to mature, very fine in all its points,
with short small legs aud head thin jowls, a
dished face, slender, erect ears, broad, deep,
compact body, well ribbed up, extra heavy
hams and shoulders, slender tail, thin skin,
and firm, elastic flesh
From the years 1887 to 1912, the writer
of this possessed swine in his p;ggery, an.
swering to the above description, except they
usually had from two to three white feet
but no other white on them.
4. Establishing The Improred Breeds OF
Berkshire Strine.-After using the Siamesc
boar in Berkshire, to the old style Of females
as long as it was considered best, he was
discarded, aud the cross pigs then bred to-
gether; thus establishing one of the most
valuable and perfect breeds of swine now
known, which may emphatlcOlly be called
the Farmers hog;
;. Superiority Of Berkshire S,oiae 70,
Smoked Meat.-In one respect they may be
said to excel all other breeds with which
the committee are acquainted, and that is
in the superior weight and quality of then
hams aud shoulders, these yielding much
greater proportion Of tender, lean, juicy
| Eel marbcd meat in comparison to the fat,
than can be found elsewhere. The sides al.
so partake Of the same desirable qualities
aud are therefore Of superior excellence fol
bacon Considering these, it is to be hoped
that the Americans, at least, will never at
tempt to alter the breed by crossing other
swine upon it, for the only result will be q
deterioration The Berkshire can improve
most other breeds, but no other breed that
we know of can improve them; we would
not even recommend fresh cross of the
pure Siamese.
6. Supposed Stolen Cross Of The Spotted
Biack and White Chiaese.-The writer ot
this has been asked how it is that white spot,
are found in the improved Berkshire, if nj
other colors prevailed in the breeds used tC
form it, than black and buff, as described
above. lie can account for it in no Other
way than by supposing stolen cross may
also have been taken from that family o.
the Chinese, which is about equally spotted
in coors of black and white. Such of thesC
as the writer possessed in his piggery up
wards Of thirty years ago, were much like
the Siamesc, save that they were not Sc
heavy in the hams and shoulders; were fiat
ter in the sides, with more belly, fuller il
the iowls aud had little lean meat in the car
cass. We have occasionally seen pigs called
the improved Berkshire, as fat jowsi and al
spotted as these Chinese, but the bette
breeders rejected them as more fitted for sal
pork for barrcling, and adhered to thos,
with greater proportion of the darker col
ors, finding them much superior for ham anC
bacon, aud also for fresh pork.
I. When the improvement Commenced
In what year during the past century tn,
Siamese cross on the old breed of Bcrkshir,
swine was first taken, the committee hav,
been unable to learn, but when in England
in 1871, the earliest intelligence that th
writer of this could obtain from the oldcs
breeders on this interesting subject, was from
Mr.. John Westbrook, of Pickneys Green
Byham, Berkshire, who inf rmed him tina
his father possessed them as far back as tn
year $780, in great perfection, and substan
TALLY like the best of those bred in the shir
at the time of his visit Several other age,
men informed him that the improved bree,
had existed in various districts there, frou
their earliest recollection, but it took som
time for them to pervade the country gener
ally; the old unimprovod maintaining thei
ground to a greater or less extent in all thei
size and coarseness down to the forepart O