178 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



le.it breed in England, and to take time arid satisfy 

 himself before purchasing. After diligent inquiry, 

 his friend finally settled on the Berkshire, as being 

 considered, taking all things into view, the best and 

 most approved breed, and purchased seven, four 

 males and three females, being the entire litter (the 

 owner refusing to sell a part), and forwarded them 

 to New- York, where they arrived in October last. 

 One of the male pigs will be sent to the chairman 

 of this committee in the spring, which will go still 

 farther to keep the breed from degenerating. 



There are other good breeds of hogs in some sec- 

 tions of the country, each of which has its advocates 

 and admirers, such as the Bedford or \Voburn, 

 Mackey, Leicesters, Mocho, China, Byfield, and 

 Grass-breed, as they are termed. 



Much loss has been sustained by our fanners in 

 not keeping up the purity of blood when possessed, 

 the importance of which has been too little regard- 

 ed; and, before they were aware of it, the good 

 qualities were lost, either by breeding in-and-in, or 

 by crossing with inferior animals. 



As it regards the choice of hogs for breeding, it is 

 recommended that the male should be small-headed, 

 deep and broad in the chest, the chine rather arched, 

 the ribs and barrel well rounded, and the hams fall- 

 ing full down nearly to the hock. He should also 

 be more compact in his form, and rather smaller 

 than the female ; for if she be coarse, her progeny 

 will be improved in form and flesh by the cross ; and 

 ths more roomy she is, the better chance will she 

 afford of producing a large and healthy Utter. Re- 

 specting her make, no other observation need be 

 made than to choose her of a deep and capacious 

 body, with a good appearance, and belonging to as 

 perfect a race as can be found. 



The boar should be well fed, and, when young, 

 used sparingly. The sow should also be kept in 

 good condition, so as to support her offspring, but 



