Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-24
For The Oxford Democrat.
THE BERKSHIRE HOG.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
Bsrkshires arc thought very highly Of,
BY nearly every one who has given them
. fair trial, still there are many good
farmers who have . decided prejudice
against al of the improved breeds Of black
hogs, and think the Chester White and
various crosses is the ne plus ultra Of
perfect hog. One Of the objections urged
against the Berkshires by those who
haven't tried them nor don't mean to, is
that they are small and will not grow to
a large size, like the Chester. Some
claim also that the meat is thin, and
of inferior quality others, while adj
hitting them to be the most per-
feet formed and quickest growers, Of
any breed, object to them on account Of
their color. which is black. This last
objection which is no objection at all, for
color is merely a matter Of fancy, and in
some, cases Of prejudice, and black is
surely as good color as white, and il con-
sidered better in the case Of cattle and
horses, besides hogs are usually kept where
they get more or less dirty and it shows
more on white than black animal.
And as reg ards the Berkshires being small,
surely tnis idea is one of the most eron-
eous, one of the most unfounded that
could possibly find Judgment in the heads
of the usually level headed farmers
To show that this is the case | will
mention a few of the weights as they occur
TO me of Berkshires both in this section
and other sections Of the country. Mr..
j. c. Kimball Of So. Paris killed las,
spring pig Of Berkshire blood which dress
ed 400 los. q. W. Maxim, Paris, has
one OF the same litter, estimated to weigh
| 800. los or over, and others of the litter
dressed considerably over three bundled.
Frank Maxim, So. Paris, slaughtered one
seven months old which dressed 500 and
Mr.. Maxim says he took no pains with 1t
sri did not feed il over f,e bushels OF
meal all summer. While man IN MIN
nesota killed Berkshire less than SIX
month old, which dressed S23 los. 7.
l.. Miller Of Beecher, lii killed litter
Of seven. whica averaged 220. lbs at SIX
months of age, while in the National Lave
Stock Journal | find accounts Of Berk-
shire Is, ars which weigh in working cJn'
dillon from eight hundred TO one thous-
and pounds.
i, is not my purpose here to argue
that i, is the most profitable to raise
these larges, Berkshires, but | name
them to show tha, it is the merest bosh
10 objsc, to the Berk,hires on the ground
that they don't grow big enough. In re-
gard to their meat have plenty of tesii.
mony 10 ahow that il 10 OF the very best
quality, and they are especially noted fol-
tue manner 10 which the hams and
shoulders are marbled with fat and lean
meat, making them desirable for curing
as bacon. A coarse fat ham Is not the
kind sought after when people have onc'
tried fine grained, rich and well mar
DIED hams OF the Berkshire hog. The!
are also motel for their docility and pro-
Efficacy. these producing large filters anc
oeing gentle mothers not devouring then
young as do most white sows. The!
are also OF uniform type. all marke'
alike and all having broad backs anC
hams leaving very little waste 10 beint
dressed of. either of bone or otfal. Man,
other things might be said In favor o
,hi. superior breed and not exhaust TIT
.uhject, but time and space forbids
o her breeds may rise and fall, but TIT
berkshire hos survives them all. NJ.