The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-09-24
AMERICAN HOGS.
Leading Features of the Various Breeds to
Be Found in the United States.

Leading Features of the Various Breeds to
Be Found in the United States.
The POland-China is distinctively an
American breed, having been made up
by crossing many others. The hogs of
this breed are of dark spotted color,
with fine dropping ears, small heads,
long bodies and short legs. They fat
ten at an early age, but eighteen to
thirty months make very heavy hogs.
The Berkshires were introduced into
the United States from England over
fifty years ago, and have since been
greatly improved. They are black,
with white on feet, face, tip of tail and
an occasional splash on arm or some
part of the body. The face is short,
fine, dished; ears almost erect, but in
Ginning forwards back straight, body
round, tail fine, legs short and set well
apart, length medium, bone fine. They
mature very early. Their flesh is well
marbled and skin thin.
The small Yorkshire is a white breed
recently introduced from England.
Their faces are very dishing, giving
a rather ludicrOus expression; ears
nearly erect, inclining forward. In
general form they possess much genu-
Inc porcine beauty, and are very popu-
lar in England.
The Chester Whites are truly Ameri-
can swine, having originated in Ches-
ter County, Penn. Being a ''made-up"
breed, there was great variation among
them, but at length a distinctive type
has been obtained by careful breeding.
The Chester Whites are large white
hogs, with small heads, ears projecting
forward and tapping at the points;
coat thin, with no bristles; long, deep
bodies.
The Cheshires are supposed by good
authority to have been derived from
the New Yorkshires. In form and 9th
er points. except color, they resemble
the Berkshires. They are pure white.
smaller and finer than the Chester
Whites, and larger than the Suffolks.
They are prolific, mature early, and
their flesh is nicely streaked with fat
and lean, like the Berkshires.
The Suffolks are small white hogs,
with very thin hair and fine pink skin.
They are not popular among the great
pork producers of the West, but are an
finals for the village mechanic who
keeps one pig, and the amateur. In
short, they may be regarded as a fancy
breed, rather than one for business.
They mature early, fatten easily, and
make fine delicate pork if killed at
eight to ten months old.
The Essex hogs are black, and in all
points except color greatly resemble
the Suffolks. They are less sensitive
to hot sunshine, keep in good condition
on grass alone, and fatten easily. They
are quite popular at the East, but are
not kept largely in the West. There
is larger, or, as it is called, an i'm
proved Essex, made by crossing with
larger breeds, for which much is
claimed.
The Duroc-Jersey is red in color, and
is supposed to have descended from the
old style of Berkshires, among which
that peculiar color IS prevalent. The
Duroc-Jersey has been bred under
other names in the United States for
more than sixty years, but it is only re-
Gently that the present name was adopt
ed. They are long, deep hogs, with
moderately small heads, ears dropping
forward; bone rather large; body deep
and long; legs firm and short. WheI
fully matured they dress four hundred
to five hundred pounds, and pigs al
nine months old should dress two hun
bred and fifty 70 three hundred pounds.
Indianapolis Sentinel.