The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
a FEW Of TIE BERKSHRE5 On THEIR CONNECTICUT
ESTATE.

Brook the history of every animal is care
fully set down. This registration has an i'm
rortant bearing upon the future of the por
cine race.
Men Of wealth. who can get along without
a profit or can even take a loss for the bene-
1T OF improvement of the breeds of farm an
imals are usually precise and businesslike
in the keeping of the necessary records
They can thus, as Mr.. Elliott is doing at
Piping Brook, II they are interested In Berk-
still es, follow u, the fine traditions estab-
,ished by such early improvers OF the breed
as Lord Darlington and Richard Ashley.
Although the breeding of the Berkshire
has progressed far, there are still greater
possibilities, judging from the success which
crowned the early pioneers. In the century
which has passed since the first importations
of This stock into the United States Ameri-
can breeders have done much toward adj
vancing the standards. The crossing OF the
original breed with Siamese and Chinese
ooars with the original strain In Berkshire
England, has given race with still better
meit, with improved quality OF bone. and
established line of offspring in both Great
Britain and America which is more quiet,
feeds better, and natures earlier than the
hogs Of the primitive strain.
Hopes to Further Improvement.
With the cooperation of farmers and Of
professional breeders throughout the coun-
try" said Mr.. Elliott, II hope to do still more
for the improvement of the breed. l keep
In touch with the best pig farms throughout
the United States, and bring in choice speci-
mems wherever they can be found.
This makes the farm at Greenwich n
national clearing house. in way. and
may say an international one, for lately
L have had the honor of exporting some
fine Berkshire boars to the Argentine, to
Cuba and to various Central and South
American points. Looking at the matter
however. from the point of view of improv-
ing the pork products of this country. that
Is of giving to the American public a better
quality of ham and bacon and lard at what
1 hope will be eventually lower price, the
effort which has been made at Piping Brook
has more than paid for itself.
AS 1 am looking rather to the general
good many years from now, have been
selling to the butchers or slaughtering many
animals which are excellent, but. for various
reasons, do not come up to the standard
for carrying on the traditions of the breed.
Others are sold at low rates and actually
at loss and without a written pedigree,
because it is the policy of Piping Brook to
have only such animals registered from 1t
as are of distinct advantage to the breed
as a whole. Even these, however. have their
effect In improving the quality OF the Amer
lean hog. A policy such as this cannot re-
turn large income. Were I not engaged
In other business, and this were really a
recreation for me, although it may strike
some persons as n rather peculiar one, II
would not be considered satisfactory a
producer of revenue.
Few Expert Herdsmen to Be Found.
What has been accomplished at this farm
of mine however, should point the way to
young and ambitious men. who by close
attention to the business could soon build
II into a profitable and useful means of
earning a good livelihood and even of maxi
ing fortunes. II is hard to get well edu-
Gated, resourceful men as superintendent,
otherwise / would not hesitate to buy up
fifteen or twenty more farms and put each
In charge OF men Of this type. From $4,000
TO $1,000 a year as q herdsman is a far cry
from the old Saxon days when that occupa-
ton was considered mental, but / would be
glad to pay that much to those who can
make good.
The trade Of raising pigs either for the
market direct or for breeding purposes is
one which may well be considered by young
men with n farm experience. Some of the
bright sons or farmers who have had go,d
training in agricultural colleges are taking
it ur seriously and earnestly I glad to
shy. Indeed. | have had the pleasure Of
welcoming some OF them at Piping Brook,
wnere I hope that they found that their
visits repaid them Tor riding out eight miles