The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-04-29
the Berkshire Hog.

whom IL was reicreu.
The committee appointed 10
renor, on the above, respectfully sub
nit That from the best information
,bav have been able TO obtain on
this important subject. they lind tha1
swine of various colors, forms ana
sizes have existed in Berkshire,
England. from time immemoriaL
That family, however, which Was
The foundation of the present improv-
ed breed, was ola sandy or pun COZ
or about equally spotted with black;
WAS of a large size ; a slow feeder
and did not fully mature till two ana
a hale TO three wears old. But as
such il was very highly esteemed Tor
the greater portion of lean and iat 10
its meat and for the superior weight
oft hams and shoulders thus rem
dering the whole carcass peculiarly
well tited for smoking, for which |
purpose il was said 10 excel all
other English breeds.
A colored portrait Of one oil the
old breed OF Berkshire swine may
be found in Prof Lows folia work
on British Domestic Animals. The
writer Of this saw specimens thus
marked. on his first viii 10 berkshire
in the wear lS4l and again IN 1861,
but in form and size like the improv-
ed breeds Of the present day.
HOW TIE IMPROVEMENT n THE BREED
OF BERKSHIRE SWINE WAS MADE.
.. Some time during the past cen
tury, the more enlightened and enter
prising farmers Of Berkshire became
aware Of the great advantage it
would be TO them 10 improve their
swine. In casting about for the best
kind ofmales TO cross upon their iemal-
es for this purpose, tradition afiirms
that they fixed upon the Siamese
boar, then recently imported into
England
WHAT Is THE sIAMEsE BREED OF
SWINE
3. In color, we are Informed that
il varies in shade, from a clear jet
black to dark slate, or deep rich
plum. Ii is Of medium size, quick to
mature, very fine in air its points,
with short small legs and head, thin
'owls, dished face, slender, erect
ears, broad, deep, compact body, well
ribbed up, extra heavy hams and
shoulders a slender tail. thin skin,
and firm elastic flesh.
From the years 1887 to 1912, the
writer of this possessed swine ia his
piggery answering to the above de-
scription, except they usually had
from two 20 three white feet, but no
other white on them.
ESTABLISHING THE IMPROVED BREEDS
OF BERKSHIRE BREEDS.
1. After using the SiameSe b. a
IN Berkshire 10 the old Sryle "f
females a. long as it wa, considered
best, he was discarded, and the cross
pigs then bred together; thus. estab-
fishing one Of the most valuable and
perfect breeds of swine now known,
which may emphatically be called
the Farmers hog.
SUPERIORITY OF BERKSHIRE SWINE
FOR SMOKED MEAT.
;. In ore respect they NAV be said
10 excel all other breeds with which
the committee are acquainted, and
that is in the superior weight and
quality of their hams and shoulders
these yielding a much greater proper
,ion OF tender, lean juicy, well mar
hled meat, in comparison TO the fat.
than can be found elsewhere The
sides also pariake Of the same desira-
ble qualities, aud are therefore Of
superior excelency for bacon, Con
sidering these, il is 20 be hoped that
The Americans. at least, will never at
tempt 10 alter the breed by crossing
other swine upon il, for the only re.
suit will be deterioration The
Berkshire can improve most other
breeds, but no other breed that we
know of can improve them we would
not even recommend a fresh cross Of
the pure Siamese.
SUPPOSED STOLEN CROSS OF THE srOT-
TED BLACK AND WHITE CHINESE.
G. The writer of this has been ask
I'd how it is that white spots are found
in the improved Beakshirt, if no other
color prevailed in the breeds used to
form il than black and buff, as describ-
ed above. He can account for it in
no other way than by supposing
stolen cross may also have been
taken from that family of the Chinese,
which is about equally spotted in
colors Of black and white. Such of
these as the writer possessed in his
pigeery, upwards ofthirty years ago,
were much like the Siamese, save
that they were not 80 heavy in the
hams and shoulders were fatter in
the sides, with more belly, fuller in
the jowls, and had little lean meat in
carcass. We have occasionally seen
pigs called the improved Berkshire,
as jowled and as spotted as these 4
Chinese, but the better breeders re-
jected them as more fitted for salt
pork for barreling, and adhered to
those with a greater proportion Of
the darker colors, finding them much |
superior for ham and bacon, and also
for fresh pork
WHEN THE IMPROVEMENT COMMENCED |
Z. In what year duriug the past
century the Siamese cross on the old
breed of Berkshire swine was first
taken, the committee have been una
bic to learn, but when in England in
lS4l, the earliest intelligence that the
writer could obtain from the Oldest
breeder on this interesting subject,
was from Mr.. John Westbrook of
Pinckney's Green, Byham Berkshire,
who informed him that his father
possessed them as far back as the
year 1880, in great perfection, and
substantially like the best of those
bred in the shire at the time of his
visit Several other aged men inform
ed him that the improved breed had
existed in various districts there from
their earliest recollection, but it
took some time for them 10 prevade
the country generally the old unim-
proved maintaining their ground TO a
greater or less extent in all their size