BREEDS OF PIGS IN THE UNITED STATES. Ill 



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THE " CHESHIRE," OR JEFFERSON COUNTY PIGS. (Fig. 28.) 



This is a breed of pigs originating in Jefferson County, 

 N". Y. For a dozen years or more they have been exhibit- 

 ed at the Fairs of the 1ST. Y. State Agricultural Society, 

 and for the last six or seven years have carried off nearly 

 all the prizes offered for pigs of the large breed. They 

 were first exhibited, to the best of our recollection, under 

 the names of " Cheshire and Yorkshire," and afterwards 

 as " Improved Cheshires," and in 1868, one of the largest 

 breeders exhibited them as "Improved Yorkshires." 



Fig. 28. JEFFERSON COUNTY PIG. 



These different names, in different years, indicate the nature 

 of the breed. They have been very extensively distrib- 

 uted throughout the country, and especially in the West, 

 under the name of " Cheshires." It would be better, we 

 think, to call them the " Jefferson County " pigs, as in- 

 dicating the place rather than the nature of their origin. 

 The latter is uncertain, while there can be no doubt that 

 Jefferson County is entitled to the credit of establishing a 

 very popular and valuable breed of pigs. 



The old Cheshire pig was one of the largest and coarsest 

 breeds in England, but Sidney says " these unprofitable 



