Breeds of Hogs 423 



THE DUROC-JERSEY (PLATE x) 



Much uncertainty exists regarding the exact elements 

 making up the foundations of the Duroc- Jersey breed, but 

 it is believed to have originated from a fusion of the so- 

 called Jersey Red breed of New Jersey and New York, 

 and the Durocs of New York. The former were large 

 and inclined to be coarse, while the latter were rather fine 

 of bone and carcass. These two strains of red hogs 

 probably descended from importations of Red Guinea 

 hogs from Africa, made as early as 1804, the Spanish red 

 hogs from Spain, and the Red Portuguese breed from 

 Portugal. It is believed that sandy-colored Berkshires, 

 which were more or less common at that time, also con- 

 tributed some influence on the foundation stock. 



Uniformity of color and type and the other character- 

 istics for which this breed has become noted have been 

 developed chiefly since 1885. From 1900 to the present 

 time the breed has attained an unusually strong position 

 of merited popularity, especially throughout the corn-belt 

 and the South. The two characteristics which have had 

 most to do in winning this position are : first, the pro- 

 lificacy of the sows ; and second, the good feeding quali- 

 ties of the pigs. Like the Poland-China, the Duroc- 

 Jersey is now being bred for greater scale. With all 

 breeders working towards the common goal of size with 

 quality, prolificacy, and vigorous feeding qualities, the 

 breed will undoubtedly be able to maintain the high 

 position which it has gained. 



THE HAMPSHIRE (PLATE x) 



Little authentic information exists relative to the origin 

 of this breed. It is recorded, however, that from 1820 to 



