240 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



food consumed. With these views, the examination commenced 

 with the boars, of which there were seven present, and all of the 

 right character to leave behind them an impress of their good 

 qualities. References in regard to this fact were the living 

 witnesses around them, whose future history will afford inter- 

 esting research for coming historians who may grace the suc- 

 cessive generations of pigdom. 



Of breeding sows there were eleven, ten of which were at- 

 tended with their families, consisting of seventy-nine members 

 of different ages, but all requiring the tender solicitude of 

 maternal care and nursing — what a sight ! Seventy-nine as 

 clean, plump, hearty looking little fellows as could be found 

 in any school district ! And this is no invidious comparison, 

 for by way of distinction, the committee were introduced to one 

 family as of the seminary stock. Of this family much might be 

 said, if liberty of speech were always admissible ; but it is enough 

 for present remark, that they were multum in parvo. Just look 

 at them, as one after another approaches the mother, who gently 

 reclines upon the straw, giving to each a note of affectionate 

 recognition. Hear them recite their lessons in the dead lan- 

 guages, and modestly retire to their respective places at the 

 breast. If it be true that " 'tis education forms the common 

 mind," we may expect fat things from this '^ happy family" at 

 some future day. 



There was another from whom a biographical note was re- 

 ceived, which read substantially as follows : " I am now three 

 and a half years of age. In April, when only eleven months 

 old, was the mother of twelve piglets ; in the following Septem- 

 ber, I had nine more ; and in the next March, I added twelve 

 more to my family ; then again, in a subsequent September, I 

 nursed ten more ; again, in March, I gave birth to eleven, and 

 at the present time, I am the happy mother of ten, which are 

 here present to add to the attractive features of this pleasant 

 occasion, although infants of only three weeks." This statement 

 was duly certified by his owner, and the aggregate value of this 

 family was estimated at one hundred and sixty dollars, over the 

 signature of Michael Dome, of West Springfield. 



There were others present, too, whose family record would 

 furnish many interesting facts for those more inquisitive than 

 wise in relation to their antecedents ; but our limits will only 



