Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-11-29
ANDARD- McMINNVIILE TENNESSEE SATURDAY. NOV aol884

suckers. They are active-some think
they are too enterprising. They fur
nish excellent meat for smoking.
Their hams, shoulders and bacon are
Of good quality. They are deficient as
lard producers. As stated, some obs
ject to them on account of their activi-
ty, making them restless in the field,
inclined TO use their shouts extensively,
disposing them to being breechy, and
when they have a range to being hard
to fatten and slow of growth. But
this very disposition makes them the
favorite among Western cattle feeders,
who always have swine to follow the
cattle, the former getting their living
from the excrement of the latter. The
lazier, slower, lop.eared breeds are FREE
quently injured if used for this pur>
pose. But the upright ear. quick eye,
firm nerve, and active muscles of the
Berkshire keep it out of the way of the
steer. For following cattle no breed is
It's superior, perhaps It's equal. For
the swine raisers of villages, and all
Others who con6ne their hogs in close
quarters, it is excellent, as when con-
fined it grows rapidly and fattens east
ly. The invention of snout rings has
contributed to the popularity of the
Berkshire, as now its roofing propensi-
ty can be easily restrained. Another
change in its favor has been the in.
creased growing of pork upon pasture.
Swine raisers have learned that pas.
ture is the most wholesome food, and
that swine plague is rarely found in a
clover field; land that, in addition,
grass and clover make cheaper pork
than corn. The activity and alertness
Of the Berkshire well fit it for pas
ture animal. 1t is good grazer. AS
a result, it is growing in popular favor
in the West, where for years larger
hogs were the favorites. The Western
farmers have learned that the largest
hogs are not the most profitable; and
consumers and packers prefer pieces of
such size as the Berkshires cut.
These animals are now thicKIy dis
tributed throughout the West, and
their popularity appears to increase
with their numbers. They have been
taken to all parts of the South and
have given general satisfaction. Where
they have not, it has not been their
fault, but of the treatment they have
received. They have gone as far
south as Georgia and Texas, and are
found as far north as Minnesota and
Maine, and IN Canada, and wherever
accorded fair treatment have done we'll
They are not the largest hogs, but are
of fair size. l find they are peculiarly
well adapted to being Uttered early in
the Spring, summered on abundant
grass and clover, and fattened on grain
during the Fall, or Fall and Winter;
and this is the course of feeding which
is coming into favor in the great swine
growing States. This breed is among
breeds of swine about what the Short.
horn is among breeds of cattle-well
adapted to all localities and conditions,
but not specially adapted to any par
ticular ones. Being of such ancient
lineage it breeds true but it soon de-
generates when bred in-and-in. The
pigs are hardy, and will do well
though Uttered in the early Spring.
And as they are alert and active, and
the mothers are good nurses, the filters
are generally saved.
SToCKMAN.