DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 7« 



plainly see that they preferred those that had a strong dash of the Berkshire 

 blood Mine were all half, and some of them nearly full Berkshire, and they 

 suited the buyers. The Poland-Chinas that were young, and not of the coarsei 

 strains of that breed, were also in demand, and pleased the packers very much. 

 Both breeds furnish good hams and shoulders, as well as side meat, and have 

 but little offal. 



"From a long experience, I am satisfied that I can fatten the Berkshire 

 in one-half the time, and with one-half the corn required by the scrub breeds. 

 I wish that accurate experiments for farm purposes could be made with this 

 breed in comparison with the Chester White, Poland-China, Essex, or anj 

 other breed. I feel certain that the Berkshire would bear off the palm. 

 Was there ever a hardier, healthier breed? Mine have never had an bour of 

 sickness, nor mange, nor any skin disease. Do you see any comparing witt 

 them as breeders? Other breeds may have as many pigs, but will they raise 

 as many nice, salable ones? The Berkshires are so thoroughly established 

 that they reproduce themselves in their offspring. All their pigs are fine. 

 They require no weeding out. They are nicely turned, square built, plump 

 fellows that please the eyes of all. The color is good. Tbey are sufllcientlj' 

 active and industrious, and are good gleaners and grazers, are just the righ^ 

 size for the packers, and furnish the finest hams to be found anywhere. 

 They have less offal, are not coarse, have small bones and are perfect." 



Ee7nark8. — Although it seems that the Berkshires have a clear track, ye* 

 I will give one more item in their favor, it being short, and right to the point, 

 as follows : 



Berkshire Swine— Points of Superiority Over all Others.— 

 Mr. S. A. Knapp, an Iowa swine breeder, thus states his very high opinion ol 

 *he Berkshires : 



"The Berkshire hogs are superior to all others for the following reasona 



"1st. They possess greater vitality, and hence are less liable to disease. 



"2d. They are more prolific. Mature sows seldom raise less than 8 or 9 

 pigs. 



"3d. Being strictly a thoroughbred hog, the pigs are uniform— all choice. 



•''4th. Their flesh is firmer than that of any other hog. They furnish 

 superior ham, shoulder, and bacon. They bring a higher price for the English 

 market. " 



Remarks. — Simply, "none others need apply." By all mean? give them a 

 trial. Still, for family use, I prefer a smaller hog, which makes its best at 

 about 150 to :^t most, 200 lbs. My stomach is not strong enough for the verj 

 large and very fat kind, but I know their great value for the market, and 

 consequently to the farmer's profits. There is another advantage claimed by 

 many writers in favor of the Berkshire, and that is, that they are less liable to 

 have hog cholera than most other breeds. 



A Small, Quick-Growing Hog Desirable.— Another writer makes 

 the following statement of the value of a, small hog, as compared with the 

 (arger ones. He says : 



