Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-09

Your valuable paper came 10 hand last
evening, and as usual was looked through
before retiring, and the first article to at
tract my attention was that upon Duroc
Jersey swine 10y j NJ. S, which | think
is excellent but from the reading Of the
last paragraph should Judge that he was
not entirely conversant with the history of
the breed As have made the history of
the Duroc and Jersey Red a particular
study for the past six years. | will give it
as have been able to obtain from the writ
ings of our best authorities, for the benefit
of those who are not familiar with the red
hog
/ have never been able to learn positively
the definite origin of the Durocs or Jersey
Reds. but they have both, without doubt,
descended from the old Berkshire of early
importation as Prof Laws typical Berk
shire, in his book on the "Domesticated
Animals Of Great Britain, is in almost all
respects, color and form, identical with the
the modern Duroc-Jersey, only perhaps lit
tie coarser.
have also been told by an Englshman
about seventy years of age that when he
was a boy in England they had black and
red hogs which in general form resembled
nv Duroc-Jerseys. and that they called
them Berkshires OF course the black spots
have been bred OFF the Duroc as the red
has been bred of the Berkshires but in
both cases we have a reversion to the old
colors, rs the Duroc Jerseys often have
black hecks, and are even allowed in the
Standard and the same with Berkshires
Coburn SAYS, white upon one ear or a
bronze or copper spot on some part of the
body argues no impurity, but rather a re
appearance Of the original cOlors
According to A. b. Allen, in Coburn S
Swine Husbandry, the first importation Of
Berkshires was made t. New Jersey by
John Brentnall, in 1923, and the next lot
was imported in 1882 by Sidney Halves, an
English farmer who settled in Albany,
y. y. 1t is very clear to my mind that
Jersey Reds sprang from some of the stock
imported by Mr. Brentnall, and that the
Duroc Of Saratoga and adjoining counties
owes its origin to the importation of Mr..
Halves.
The difference of breeding of the two
strains is very noticeable The Jersey Reds
are coarse haired, heavy boned, and stand
rangy on their legs The ear is large and
very much Topped ; the tail heavy with
large brush. They are capable of attain
ing immense size, but do not mature as early
as the Duroc.
Inc DurOC Is inner III bone, with nne half
and small tail, with small dropping ears,
which ! have sometimes seen standing near
ly erect like the Berkshire The nose is
long and slim, in fact rather too long, and
think a cross of the Duroc and Jersey Red
IS superior to either separately, and | have
been breeding in that line for some time
The Duroc Jersey Swine Registry wa,
formed in 1888, and it was decided to ad
init all Duroc or Jersey Red swine which
came up to the standard then adopted 1t
was deemed best to make compromise OF
name so that the breeders of either strain
would have no cause for dissatisfaction, con
sequently we have the name as it nov
stands, Duroc Jersey.
While the Duroc Jersey as 1t is generally
bred is a few years behind the Poland China
in fneness, vet ! know of many herds oi
| Duroc Jerseys which are equal in all RESPECTS
to the most improved Poland Chinas.
Many breeders are fast becoming alive t,
the many good qualities which the red hog
possess. They are very hardy, Withstand
ing disease remarkably well, and are very
prolific, and their naturally docile DISPOSE
ton makes them the best of mothers, Will,
their broad, golden red backs and sides VIII
| for them the admiration of all lovers of fine
stock. They are very susceptible TO kline
treatment, liberal food and good care anC
| it will Ice but few wears before pool
herd of Duroc-Jerseys will he hard to find
Cor. !StOckmdH and Farmer.