The record-union., 1896-09-10
SWINE AND SHEEP.
A Glance at the Rare Specimens
Entered for Premiums.

All Qdy yeStcTQdy lleIe was d line VI
people visiting the lowing herds, the
bleating flocks and the swine stalls at
Agricultural Park If those sleek ami
mails are a fair sample Of the stock
raised on the ranches of the Golden
State. the truth OF Joaquin Miller's 8
words were verified when he said 1t
were better to be contented-
In the tending of cattle and growing of grain
Than proud man struggling for wealth and
fame.
OF swine there Is about the same num-
ber on exhibition as last year. though
like the cattle the number of breeds
has been reduced. This is accounted for
by the fact that stockmen have discov-
cred that the varieties adapted TO the
climate and food conditions OF this State
are limited to a few breeds. Those rep
resented this year are the Poland China,
English Berkshire, Essex and York
shire. The quality Of these breeds ex-
hihited is said to favorably compare
with that of any previous year, and
many favorable points are called to the
attention Of visitors
Sacramento County heads the list with
seventy-six head of as fine Berkshires,
Poland China and Essex hogs as ever
Perkins and Florin, and are specimens
which are universally acknowledged to
he as fine as silk" There is one pair
Of very modest and elderly pigs which
together pull down the beam at 1850
pounds-enough pork, if it were all con-
tanned in the hams, to furnish every
man in Sacramento with ham sand
wich.
a a 60 haY nj ierc 6co
tiful to behold, in the language Of a
farmer. However, this was excepted
to by lady yesterday, who declared 1t
was horrid to speak Of a pig as being
beautiful
Nov, horse may be beautiful" re-
marked the lady, because his graceful
form abounds in artistic curves"
How about a pigs tail?'' promptly
responded the husband.
IT was fortunate that just then a half
domesticated Polled Angus two-year-olC
broke loose and the domestic calamity
was averted.
If the Prodigal son could have fec
such a band Of hogs as Sacramento
County has to show this year doubtless
he would have grown old in the hog
business. instead of going on a strike
as he did.
Los Angeles is represented by fifteer
head Of Berkshires and six Poland
Chinas, and they will sharply compete
for premium.
San Joaquin County has twenty fine
Essex, five Berkshire, sixteen Poland
Chinas and twenty-five head. of York.
shires in the pens, all Of the ttue blood
Alameda County not only raises oys-
ND f-I1
Fourteen Of the Essex pigs are acknowl.
edged to be porkers of rare qualities
and are on the boards for prize win
ners.
Fresno County raises a. few hogs
when not too busy with her raislns, and
this season she has come to the from
with two Poland China pigs. six months
OLD, and each weighing 160 pounds.
One of the most interesting features
Of the park Is the small herd of Persian
or fat-tailed sheep. These sheep, ter
In number, We're the gift of the Shah ot
Persia, and were sent to California BY
the Agricultural Department at Wash.
ington. It was thought the climate o
California would be cCngenial to thes,
beasts. and they were installed In tht
coast range hills at San Jose The an
inals have fourished, and in a few
years increased to a band of twenty
five.
This species Of sheep does not car,
for color, hence their progeny are al
apt to be black, drab, gray or spotted
as the favorite brown. Their flesh is
said to be excellent and it turns off {
coat of coarse wool, averaging from
f1,,
the Kurds of Western Asia make al
| their clothing and their houses or tents
1t forms a cheap, durable and warn
fabric. generally spun and woven By
hand
This peculiar animal does not waste
It's substance in riotous living, bu
while chewing the cud of sweet an(
bitter fancy, is laying up a store of IA
In his tail for a rainy day. This big
brown sheep could "a tale unfold bu
he won't do 1t. He just waits until tn,
| feed grows short and then draws {
! daily ration from that cumbersome ap
pendage. The Kurds esteem the tail a.
a dainty morsel, and for soup OK tai
| is not in the race with It.
| There are forty-two head of snow.
white Angora goats from San Jose
which would make the old style Billy
pull his whiskers with envy. This flocl
/ is one of the finest in the State. ant
they are of the bluest blood. The An
goras have been found to be particular
| ~ adapted TO the mountain ranges
where they live without a grain of fooC
except what they browse from tht
| shrubs and trees.
Sacramento County has on exhibition
| twenty-five head Of Merino sheep O