114 HAKRIS ON THE PIG. 



underwent very valuable modifications by being bred 

 with an esteemed breed of hogs then becoming known, 

 and which were called the Big China. They possessed 

 important qualities in which the other breeds were sadly 

 deficient. At a later period, Mr. Wm. Neff, of Cincin- 

 nati, an extensive pork packer, and fond of fine cattle and 

 hogs, made some importations of fine stock from England. 

 Among them were some Irish Graziers. They were white 

 in color, of fair size, fine in the bone, and possessing ad- 

 mirable fattening qualities. Berkshires, about the same 

 time, were attracting much attention, and both breeds 

 were freely crossed with the then existing stock of the 

 county. The result of these crosses was highly advanta- 

 geous in the formation of a hog of the most desirable quali- 

 ties. The Berkshires had obtained, with many breeders, 

 great favor, while others objected to them, because they 

 thought them too short, and too thick in the shoulder. 

 Nevertheless the Berkshire blood was liberally infused 

 into our stock of hogs, but in such a judicious manner, as 

 to obviate the objections urged against them, and to se- 

 cure their conceded good qualities. 



" Since the formation period of our breed of hogs, as 

 above stated, there have been no material or decided in- 

 novation upon the breed thus obtained. Our breeders 

 have carefully selected and judiciously bred from the best 

 animals thus produced among us. Where defective points 

 have been apparent, they have been changed by careful 

 breeding. There has been, for many years, no admixture 

 of any other breed of hogs. Our own breed is now, and 

 has been for nearly thirty years, the stock predominant in 

 this county. Our breeders believe that they have a well 

 established breed of hogs, which is unsurpassed in the 

 most desirable qualities of a good hog. This breed of 

 hogs, although of recent origin, may be regarded as thor- 

 oughly and permanently established. They have been 

 bred so long, and with such judgment and uniform sue- 



