1876.] 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



181 



CHESTER WHITE SWINE. 



Chester White Swine, i\()\v so widely cele- 

 brated iiiid deserveflly puimlar, oriiriiated a.s a 

 distinct breed in Chester county, Pa., hence 

 their name. In tlie year ISIS tliore were 

 brought into this county from Bedfordshire, 

 England, liy ('apt. James .FetTries, a pair of 

 choice pigs, whicli were aent to his farm near 

 the county seat. Some of the more enter|)ris- 

 ing farmers of the neigliborhood resolved to 

 coniDienee the improve- 

 ment of theirhogs, which 

 they did by crossing the 

 young pigs of tliis pair 

 upon tlie best formed and 

 most desirable native 

 stock to be obtained. 

 Their jirogeny likewise, 

 as a result of the most 

 judieioiis crossingand se- 

 lecting for a number of 

 years, the present valua- 

 ble breed of Che.sters was 

 established. Some thirty 

 years ago, upon the in- 

 trodnctinii of the SutTolk 

 and l?erkshires into this 

 country, some of the 

 Chesters were crossed 

 with them ; b\it after a 

 short trial both were re- 

 jected, not being consid- 

 ered any improvement 

 upon the Chesters, which 

 were then steadily bred 

 as near perfection as in- 

 creasing skill and untir- 

 ing zeal could secure. 

 Chester Whites are in- 

 valuable on account of 

 their large size, fine 

 forms, ready fatting 

 qualities, good bacon, 

 docility and imililicness. 

 They will readily weigh 

 400 to 700 tbs. at twelve 

 to fourteen months old — 

 one thou.sand pounds is 

 no unusual weight to be 

 attained by well fattened 

 ■'old porkers. " Theyare -a 

 gentle, quiet, and easily S 

 kept. They are not lia- " 

 ble to mange, as .some 

 prejudiced breeders, or 

 those who have "axes to 

 grind" on other grind- 

 stones, so positively 

 state. 'W'e have proved 

 this not only with ourown 

 hog.s, but also by close 

 observation of the herds 

 of other careful breeders. 

 The Chester Whites arc 

 also a well and thorough- 

 lyestablished breed, with 

 well defined characteris- 

 tics to which they breed 

 very true— as true as the 

 Berkshires or Poland 

 Chinas. There is no doubt 

 that the fame and good 

 name of the Chester 

 Whites have suffered con- 

 siderably by the ship- 

 ments of certain un- 

 princii)led dealers, men, 

 such as will be found in 

 eveiy business, who 

 would buy up worthless 

 mongrels, whose only 

 pretense to the genuine 

 was their white color and perhaps lopped 

 ears, and palm them off for the 'TJenuine (Ches- 

 ter County Whites." There areas poor hogs in 

 Chester county as anywhere in America, and 

 we have sold the pure stock of Chester Whites 

 in this very county nt fancy jyricra. We breed 

 the very best blood in America, warranted 

 Simon pure, and ship only first choice pigs, 

 not akin, which cannot fsii'l to retain the en- 

 viable reputation enjoyed by Mr. Burpee in 

 his past shipments. The Genuine Chester 



Whites, such as we breed, have the following 

 jirominent characteristics : — Head, very short 

 and broad between the eyes ; ears, medium, 

 and projecting forward ; neck, short and 

 thick ; joint, large and full; body, lengthy, 

 deep and "well ribbed out," giving ample 

 room for large, sound lungs ; back, broad, 

 and very straight; hams, large, full and deep, 

 with hue bone ; legs, short, and well set 

 under the body, of strength suflicient for 



and constantly improved. We give herewith 

 an illustration of our fine Chester White 

 Boar, "Earl of Spriugton Manor," than 

 whom it is the oi)inion of competent judges 

 there is not a finer boar of his age in Chester 

 county to-day. — Benson A Burpee, Pkilwl. 



SELECTION OF BREED. 



In 



hfcd 



selec 

 is d 



ting the breed ot hogs, if a pure 

 sired (and all intelligent farmers 

 -) appreciate the value of 

 ' thoroughbred hogs) the 

 purchaser should consult 

 the locality, markets, &c. 

 If a breed is desired for 

 early niarkeling, the 

 English Vorkshires or 

 Essex are. well adapted. 

 If for large size, ready 

 fatlening qualities, supe- 

 rior lard, the Chester 

 AVhites arc unrivalled, 

 and thrive well on only 

 ordinary care. The 

 Vorkshires are a finer 

 hog and require more 

 itiention but are invalu- 

 able for cro.ssing on mon- 

 l; rel stock or sows of coar- 

 ser breeds. The Poland 

 , Chinas aud Berk.shires, 

 are just the hogs for 

 farmers in the West, 

 where they are turned 

 i| out to shift for Ihem- 

 , ''''fives, to feed on nuts, 

 r. For this purpose 

 •ils) the Jersey Reds 

 are excellent porkers. 

 The Berkshires give a 

 superior quality of lean 

 meat, but not so heavy 

 a carcass as the Poland 

 China. Farmers must 

 also consult the tastes of 

 their neighbors. If 

 white hogs are all the 

 rage, then purchase a 

 breeding stock of the 

 fmest to be procured 

 from reliable' breeders, 

 and you will have ready 

 sale for the young stock 

 at remunerative figures. 

 Likewise should Black 

 Hogs be the rage. 

 Remember, always 

 buy the best. A few 

 I dollars is nothing on the 

 I original cost of a i)air of 

 I pigs compared with the 

 vastly increased amount 

 and value of the pork 

 produced. 



bearing the heavy weight ; hair, perfect 

 white and spotless ; skin, fine and thin ; tail, 

 neat, and small in proportion to size of body. 

 The Chester Whites are prolific breeders and 

 excellent sucklcrs. The boars are ready for 

 service when five months old ; the sows could 

 then be put to the boar, but it is always best 

 to let them attain larger size before breeding 

 —in this manner, and by breeding from pigs 

 out of the third or fourth litter, the large 

 size, united with fine boue and form, is kept up, 



PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 



They are very largo 

 and of good sha|ie, very 

 l)lump bodied with full 

 breasts. They mature 

 early and make large 

 broilers for the early 

 spring market. They 

 are very superior table 

 fowls, having also bright 

 yellow legs, free from 

 feathers. They are good 

 layers and combining as 

 they do in a wonderful 

 degree the economies of 

 large size, prolific lay- 

 ing, and superior sitting qualities, we do not 

 hesitate to recommend them as a fowl for 

 utility and profit. These fowls are out-and- 

 out an American breed, having been originated 

 and perfected here. 



And they are a production of which 

 American "Fanciers may well be proud ; 

 for of all the favorites known in the 

 fowl category, these are more than all 

 others entitled to be called the "Farmers' 

 Fowl." 



