39G STATE BOAED OF AGKICULTUEE. 



swine ; you may therefore infer that this breed has our preference, but please 

 remember I extol this breed above others. It is the beaten track Avhich breed- 

 ers generally follow in claiming greater perfection in their favorite stock than 

 in almost any thing else in either heaven or earth. I dare say if 1 were to 

 claim that any one breed of swine is better than all others I would he confronted 

 by an appalling array of weight and ages, amount of food consumed, and asked 

 for proofs. Therefore I will not say there is a best breed. 



We have in this country three prominent established breeds of swine that 

 originated in the old country, and whoso characteristics have become fixed by 

 having been bred in the same line for years. I refer to the Suffolks, Essex, and 

 Berkshires. There are some other breeds, but these three stand out prominent 

 as the Shorthorns, Devons and one or two other breeds of cattle. There are also 

 several breeds or families of swine that originated in this country, as the Poland 

 Chinas, Chester Whites, etc. The question for ns to study is which breed, if 

 any, will prove the most py'ojitadle for us to keep. Let us for a few minutes 

 look at the characteristics of tlie breeds we have spoken of. It has been the 

 aim of the breeders of the Suifolks, Essex, and Berkshires for years to reduce 

 the coarse parts, as the head, legs, intestines, etc., to the smallest amount pos- 

 sible and to increase the tendency to lay on fat and mature early. The effect has 

 been to reduce the size and weaken the constitution of the original hog. Many 

 farmers who have invested in these breeds have not found them so profitable as 

 they had been led to expect, as they will not thrive under the same treatment as 

 the common hog, and are not so productive. They also claim they do not grow 

 large enough and are liable to break down while being fattened. 



The originators and breeders of the Poland Chinas and Chester Whites claim 

 to have produced breeds that grow to larger size, are hardier, more productive, 

 and still retain the fattening qualities of the three breeds first spoken of. The 

 Chester AVhites are losing their popularity, and it is a common thing to hear 

 men condemn this breed. The Poland Chinas are a popular breed both in this 

 State and at the west. They are claimed by the growers to be superior to all 

 other breeds, to have a stronger constitution, to be better breeders and milkers, 

 bones strong enough to carry all the weight that can be put upon them, hardier, 

 attain greater size, and still have the quiet disposition and easy fattening quali- 

 ties of the three breeds first spoken of. To be a good breeder the female must 

 have a strong roomy frame, well develoi^ed and large reproductive organs, and 

 to be a good milker must have a hearty aj^petite and powerful digestive appara- 

 tus. The Poland Chinas as a class undoubtedly possess these qualifications to a 

 greater extent than the three breeds spoken of first. They have stronger bones, 

 grow to a larger size ; the sows have larger and stronger litters, but are they the 

 most profitable pig for us to raise? I have seen fine specimens of this breed, 

 and some that were exceedingly coarse. 



A gentleman called on me last spring and asked me if I did not want to buy 

 a good Poland China boar. I inquired the age and size, and was told he was 

 about a year old, and would probably weigh 400 or 500 pounds. Said I, "^Is 

 he larger than that pig?" pointing to an Essex in the yard that Avould weigh 

 about 300 pounds. Said he, "Bless you, one of his ears would cover that pig." 

 I told him I didn't care to purchase- 



At an Institute held last winter a gentleman said it should be the aim of far- 

 mers to combine the excellencies of all the different breeds of cattle in one. Is 

 this possible? AVe have the Shorthorns for beef, the Ayreshires for milk, and 

 Jerseys for butter. We can produce an animal that will fatten readily, be a 



