370 . MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



at our show could begin to compare with the sow of Mr. Fos- 

 ter referred to. 



One fact, going to show the accidental diiferences in different 

 animals of the same breed, has come under the notice of the 

 committee, and goes to confirm the theory above suggested — 

 viz., that hidden, occult causes may be at work on a part of 

 the individuals of the same species, and not upon others. The 

 Chester sow, mother of Mr. Foster's, above mentioned, was, 

 as the committee were credibly informed, large, long, and rather 

 coarse. But no sooner had we fixed in our minds the leading 

 properties of the Chester sow than we met in the very next 

 pen (Mr. I. Osgood Loring's) a Chester breeding sow, thirteen 

 months old, with her four pigs, eleven weeks old. The sow, 

 however, had no resemblance to the mother of Mr. Foster's 

 as it had been described to us, being small and neat, and in 

 many points resembling the Suffolk. If Mr. Loring's is a genu- 

 ine Chester breed, then the mother of Mr. Foster's could not 

 be ; and, in any way, a crossing of the pure Suffolk and Mr. 

 Loring's breed could not be recommended. Perhaps the com- 

 mittee erred in listening to any hearsay statements respecting 

 the Chester sow of Mr. Kimball, (mother of Mr. Foster's,) 

 especially to make use of knowledge so obtained as a basis for 

 an opinion upon a question of this kind; but we could not 

 resist the desire to know something more of the parentage of 

 Mr. Foster's sow. Let those get a better crossing who can. 



The large native sow of Jacob Farnham also attracted the 

 favorable notice of the committee, and would no doubt make a 

 good crossing with Dr. Kittrcdge's Suffolk boar. Such a cross- 

 ing we would strongly recommend. 



The committee can but admire the method of Dr. Kittredgc — 

 which is, to procure the best breeds within his reach, and to 

 keep them for the public good. 



As the " Agriculture of Massachusetts," by Mr. Flint, re- 

 ferred to in the early part of this report, is not likely to be 

 seen by all who may see our County Society's Transactions, it 

 may not be amiss to draw upon the Report of the Norfolk 

 County Society's Committee on Swine for the last year in 

 relation to one point. It is a report prepared with great care, 



