214 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



distinctive breed of sheep, good for all purposes — like the Durham 

 or short horn cattle — is the Spanish Merino. Small bands of Cots- 

 wold, Southdown, Leicestershire, and Shropshire have been imported 

 but not extensively. Sheep bred exclusively for mutton, or, to speak 

 generally, "short wool sheep," will be in but little favor until the 

 State becomes more densely settled and farmers find it to their advan- 

 tage to keep a few head upon their meadows and in close proximity 

 to their barns. 



SWINE. 



The raising of swine in California is extremely profitable. Enor- 

 mous quantities of pork are consumed by the Chinese, and the meat, 

 in its cured form, finds ready sale. Bacon is still the staple diet 

 throughout the mining regions, and the demand far exceeds the local 

 production; the importation of hams, sides, etc., being an important 

 item against the State in the balance of trade. Hogs on foot com- 

 mand from five to eight cents the year round, according to quality, 

 season, and demand, and, as remarked above, "hog raising" is one of 

 the most remunerative branches of industry. The expense of keep- 

 ing range hogs is but light, mast being plentiful, while the marsh 

 lands furnish abundance of the young, tender tule roots, much 

 relished by swine. The Berkshire is the favorite breed, the black 

 strain being preferred, owing to the intense heat in the sections best 

 adapted for raising swine, it being found that the backs of the white 

 variety blister or scald more readily from the effects of the sun's rays. 

 Formerly the Essex were greatly thought of, but the size of the Berk- 

 shire and its great strength, which enables it to make its way through 

 the thick chemisal and woody copses and plow through rough and 

 swampy marshes, has given it the preference. The Poland-China 

 attracted attention for a short time, but the interest in them has 

 abated. The meat proved soft and flabby, and being of an indolent, 

 lazy nature, they were not adapted for rough ranges, becoming foot- 

 sore and easily discouraged. The Durocs or Jersey Reds are a new 

 variety that is rapidly coming into favor. Several importations have 

 been made into this State, and they are spoken of in high terms. In 

 form and habits they resemble the Berkshire, and it is claimed they 

 are an offshoot of this breed, which, by careful incrossing, has been 

 made to assume an individual form sufficient to warrant the claim of 

 being a distinct variety. There is no occupation of a similar char- 

 acter that can be entered into in California more productive than the 

 raising of swine. San Francisco, its large commercial center, would 

 prove an almost unlimited consumer. Its vast shipping interests 

 require quantities of salted meats, its local consumption of cured and 

 fresh pork is large, while the neighboring Territory of Arizona is a 

 prompt and ready customer for every pound of bacon prepared in 

 Southern California. As a business enterprise, to one at all conver- 

 sant with this branch of stock raising, it offers a most inviting field. 



I have briefiy alluded to the most prominent descriptions of live 

 stock which have been introduced and are being bred in California. 

 To elaborate farther would take more space than can be assigned 

 this article. Mention should be made of the breeding of mules which 

 is pursued upon an extensive scale by several of our large stock rais- 

 ers. Heavy sums have been paid for jacks, imported direct, and a 

 creditable rivalry exists to produce the largest and best formed ani- 

 mals. These find ready sale, and at remunerative prices. Something 



