420 THE SPEEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 



The boars are prepotent, and cross well with almost any other 

 breed, as well as being useful for improving common stock. 



507. Distribution. Berkshires are found in every 

 state and territory of the United States, the most im- 

 portant centers being Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, 

 Indiana, Texas, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, New York, Michigan 

 and Tennessee. During the last two years more Berk- 

 shires were sold into Pennsylvania than into any other 

 state. They also are found in every Canadian province, 

 the province of Ontario taking the lead. They are found 

 in practically all parts of the British Isles, in South 

 America, in Hawaii and in some European countries. 



508. Organizations and records. The American Berk- 

 shire Association was organized in 1875, and has the dis- 

 tinction of having started the first record of swine in 

 America. The first herd-book was published in 1877, and 

 up to the present forty-seven volumes have been issued, 

 containing the names of nearly 208,000 animals. 



Registration of Berkshires in Canada was begun in 

 1876, and was conducted by the Agriculture and Arts 

 Association until 1891, when the records were taken over 

 by the newly organized Dominion Swine Breeders' Asso- 

 ciation. The first volume of the Dominion Swine Breeders' 

 Record was published in 1892. This record recorded all 

 breeds of swine represented in Canada. In 1905, the 

 Dominion Swine Records, together with nearly all the 

 live-stock records in Canada, were placed under the direct 

 supervision of the Canadian Department of Agriculture 

 at Ottawa, but are under the control of a " Record Board," 

 comprised of representatives elected by the various breed 

 organizations. This National Live-Stock Record records 

 all breeds of swine in Canada, .but the herd-book still keeps 

 the name of Dominion Swine Breeders' Record. 



