48 SWIiXK IN AMERICA 



Their size, ready growtli, lianliness. easy fattcnii^o". do- 

 cility, iinitorniity and wide adaptaliilit}-. commend them 

 to breeders everywhere. Among the quahties claimed 

 for them by their ad\'Ocates are robust muscular pow'er 

 and vitality, rendering them less than others susceptible 

 to (h'sease; strong digestive and assimilating powers, 

 and prolificacy ; the sows are careful nurses and good 

 sucklers : they can be fattened for market at any age, or 

 grown to any reasonable weight desired, and they make 

 the best quality of pork. The Berkshires are noted for 

 their uniformity in reproducing color, marking and 

 quality. 



In an early decade followdng their introduction into 

 the United States, there raged in America what might 

 appropriately be called the "Berkshire fever," and 

 through the efforts to sell the imported stock at fancy 

 prices a mushroom reputation was given the l)ree(l by 

 speculators. The careless, neglectful methods then in 

 vogue wn'th many farmers fell far short of maintaining 

 the superior equalities given by English breeding and 

 feeding, and deterioration followed. A prejudice arose, 

 wdiich for a time impaired the reputation of the stock. 

 Since 1865, how^ever. new importations of the best Berk- 

 shires of Great Britain have been made, and from tlie 

 organization in 1875 of the American Berkshire Associa- 

 tion, an alert and aggressive society, the breed's reputa- 

 tion, quality and numbers of the stock have been won- 

 derfully enhanced. 



The Berkshire especiallv makes claim to notice as an 

 animal thriving on good pasturage. Where excellent 



