24 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



too fine drawn : they were too lightly coated, and lacked 

 muscular strength and hardmess of constitution. The males 

 make most excellent sires to cross with the coarse, common 

 stock. It is generally conceded that their introduction into 

 this State and county was the means of greatly improving 

 tlie swine, and thus adding greatly to the wealth of our 

 farmers. Two fair specimen boars of what might be called 

 Suffolk and Yorkshire crossed were entered, and received 

 tirst and second premium at our late fair in Amherst. 



POLAND-CHINA. 



This breed originated in Southern Ohio, and was the 

 result of crossing several breeds with the Berkshire as a 

 basis. They are a large hog, and perhaps better suited to 

 the wants of the farmers of the West, than those of the 

 East. " This breed is very hardy, profitable to feed, and 

 will, it is claimed, dress three hundred pounds at nine or 

 ten months, and, if kept growing until eighteen or twenty 

 months, will fall little short of five hundred or six hundred 

 pounds." When Avell bred, they have long, deep bodies, 

 bone medium to large, broad and straight back, good square 

 hams and shoulders, short legs, small head, irregularly spot- 

 ted white and black. At the West this breed fairly divides 

 the honors with the Berkshire. Crossing this breed by the 

 use of pure Berkshire sires gives a most satisfactory result 

 in stock for fattening. They are far superior to the full- 

 blood Poland-China, if earl}^ maturity, small bone, little ofial, 

 and economy of feed be desired. 



THE BERKSHIRE. 



Among the several improved breeds which prominently 

 claim the attention of our farmers, there are none, we think, 

 more deserving of notice than the Improved Berkshire. 

 They are an English breed, established many years ago. 

 No pure bloods that we ever tried excel them either for fatteu- 

 ijig purposes, or for crossing on common stock. The Berk- 

 shires are thin-haired ; but the skin is almost always healthy, 

 smooth, and clastic. In size they should be classed as 

 medium, although now and then a specimen develops a size 

 that should be reckoned with the large. Experience lias 

 proved this breed to be very hardy, prolific, and excellent 



