508 



THE PIG 



what the characteristics of the best type of this red pig should 

 be. This standard, which was published in the agricultural press, 

 was the first thing of the kind printed regarding red pigs, and 

 was essentially the one adopted by the National Swine Breeders' 

 Convention in 1872. In 1885 Colonel Curtis wrote that the 

 breeders of the so-called Red Berkshire and Red Rocks cordially 

 united with the New York men, and the Duroc-Jersey standard 

 was universally accepted by the best breeders of all the red hogs 

 of America. 



The improvement of the Duroc-Jersey began with the union 

 of the breeders' interests. It resulted in a pig of some less scale 

 than the Jersey Red, lacking its coarseness, having a better quality 

 of flesh, feeding easier, and maturing more readily at a younger 

 age. Instead of developing a big hog, one of medium scale was 

 regarded as preferable. The standard of the old type of Berkshire 

 closely resembled the Duroc-Jersey of twenty years ago. Since 

 then the Berkshire has perhaps become more refined than before, 

 and the Duroc-Jersey has kept pace with Berkshire evolution. 



Men prominent in improving and advertising the Duroc-Jersey 

 are of rather recent years. There were numerous excellent 

 breeders in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont, who sought to 

 improve the breed. Mr. William M. Holmes of Greenwich, Wash- 

 ington County, New York, was long an industrious student of the 

 breed, but Colonel F. D. Curtis of Charlton, Saratoga County, 

 was not only a prominent breeder of Duroc-Jerseys but he was 

 also a natural organizer and leader and actively promoted the 

 breed for many years. Besides Holmes and Curtis, S. E. Morton 

 of Ohio, George W. Stoner, Thomas Bennett, and J. M. Stone- 

 braker of Illinois, William Roberts of Iowa, and C. H. Searle of 

 Nebraska did much for the breed from about the year 1880. 



Duroc-Jersey pigs of distinction first became prominent with 

 the appearance of the breed at the important exhibitions, notably 

 in the early eighties. Among the prominent show and breeding 

 boars between 1880 and 1885 were Major 17, Climax 21, Phil D 

 167, Richard III 181, John Jordan 297, and King Stoner 1651. 

 Of the sows of that period the following may be mentioned : 

 Holmes' Ruby 70, Lulu 76, Bess III 82, Mona II 90. Mojeska 

 96, Bessie 100, Valleria 200, Lou Edna 226, and Red Stumpy 



