468 AGEICULTUEAL REPORT. 



the Howe sewiug-macliine. The buiklings of the Howe compaiiy, 

 located at Peru, were destroyed by lire iu 1871, and were rebuilt and in 

 oi)eratioii in sixty days. This company employs tive.huudred men. 



The Xatioual Swine-Breeders' Association met in Indianapolis on the 

 20th day of yovember. Delegates vrere iu attendance from the States 

 of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Penusylvauia, and 

 Xew York. A committee appointed at the May meeting of the State 

 Swine-Breeders' Association, to prepare work for the convention and to 

 name committees to determine upon the history and characteristics, and 

 to prepare a scale of points for the respective breeds of swine, and upon 

 the question of what constitutes thorough-breds, named committees on 

 the following subjects and points : 1. What constitutes thorough-bred 

 swine i 2. OnBerkshires; 3. "Improved Cheshires or Jefierson County;" 

 4. Chester AVhites; 5. Essex; G. Neapolitan; 7. Magie or Poland-China; 8. 

 New Jersey Eeds ; 9. Sufitblks and other small white English breeds; 

 10. Yorkshires and other large w^hite English breeds ; 11. Victorias. 



The committees made elaborate reports on the various subjects referred 

 to them for consideration. As a general thing the reports are too lengthy 

 for reproduction in this volume, and we can find room only for the con- 

 clusion, or that portion wherein the characteristics or points of each 

 distinct and well-defined breed is given. The committee, after stating 

 that the Poland-China breed can be relied upon for the production of a 

 progeny of like qualities and character, give the following characteris- 

 tics : 



The best specimeua liavc good length, short legs, broad straight backs, deep sides 

 flanking well dovrn on the legs, very broad, full, square hams and shoulders, droopins 

 ears, short heads, wido between the eyes, of spotted or dark color; are hardy, vigorous 

 and prolific, and when fat are perfect models all over, pre-eminently combining the ex- 

 cellencies of both large and small breeds. 



The committee on the Berkshire breed submit the following character- 

 istics and markings : 



Color black, with white on feet, face, tip of tail, and au occasional splash of white on 

 the arm, while a small spot of white on some other part of the body does not argue an 

 impurity of blood, yet it is to bo discouraged to the end xhat uniformity of color may 

 be attained by breeders ; white upon one ear, or a bronze or copper spot on some part 

 of the body argues no imi)urity, but rather a re-appearance of original colors. Markings 

 of white other than those named above are suspicious, and a pig so marked should be 

 rejected. 



Face short, fine, and well dished; broad between the eyes. Ears generally 

 almost erect, but sometimes inclining forward with advancing age ; small, thin, soft, 

 and showing veins. Jowl full. Neck short and thick. Shoulders short from UQck to mid- 

 dling, deep from back down. Back broadand straight, or a very little arched. Ribs — 

 long ribs well sprung, giving rotundity of body ; short ribs of good length, giving 

 breadth and levelness of loins. Hips, good length from point of hip to rump. Hams 

 thick, round, and deep, holding their thickness well back and down to the hocks. Tail, 

 fine and small, set on high up. Legs, short and fine, but straight and very strong, 

 with hoofs erect, legs set wide apart. Size, medium. Length, medium ; extremes are 

 to be avoided. Bone, fine and compact. Oftal, very light. Hair, fine and soft ; no bris- 

 tles. Skin, pliable. The Berkshires are hardy, prolific and excelleut nurses ; their meat 

 is of a superior quality, with fat and lean well mixed. 



The following are given as the points of Neapolitan swine : 



Head small ; front head bony and flat ; face slightly dishing ; snout rather long and 

 very slender; ears small, thin, standing outward and forward nearly horizontally, and 

 (luite lively ; jowls very full but not large ; neck short, broad, and heavy above, with 

 small dewlap; trunk long, cylindrical, Avell-ribbed back; back flat, and ribs well 

 arching even iu very low flesh ; belly horizontal on lower line ; hind-quarters higher 

 than fore, but not very much so ; legs very fine, the bones and joints being smaller 

 than those of any other breed : hams and shoulders well developed and meaty ; tail 

 fine, curled, flat at extremity, with hairs on each side ; general color slaty or bluish 

 plum color, that is, dark blue, with a cast of coppery red ; skin soft and fine, nearly 



