S\YINE. Od 



The first premium on pigs, six dollars, they award to William 

 Foster, of Andover, and tliey award the second, of four dollars 

 to I. Osgood Loring, of Andover. 



They also recommend mileage to J. R. Wellman, of Middleton, 

 88 cents ; B. F. Pierson, Haverhill, 04 cents ; A. P. Bateman, 

 Georgetown, 88 cents. 



The Committee on Swine regard the duty of awarding premiums 

 upon the animals presented for their inspection as important, and 

 requiring the closest and most candid attention, and they have en- 

 deavored to bestow such attention in the present case. This duty, 

 however, may properly be considered as subordinate to the great 

 matter constructively committed to them, viz. : to aid in determin- 

 ing what breed of Swine is lest adapted to tlie County of Easex : — 

 and having disposed of the matter of premiums as above, the com- 

 mittee devoted as much time to the subject referred to as they were 

 able to, without however arriving at any conclusion fully satisfac- 

 tory to themselves. It is a great question, deserving the attention 

 of every Agricultural Society, and we are happy to perceive it is 

 receiving the attention it deserves. 



It may be, and may remain a general truth, that, in the language 

 of the Chairman of the Hampshire County Committee of last year, 

 " No one breed is best adapted to all locations and circumstances." 

 It can hardly be credited however for a moment, that the answers 

 to inquiries of the United States Commissioner of Patents some two 

 years ago, making a different and distinct breed necessary for almost 

 every State, are to be taken as literally true. May it not be fairly 

 questioned whether there are really as many distinct breeds of Swine 

 as there appear to be ? 



And might not a better knowledge of animal physiology aid us in 

 accounting for the fact that different breeds of Swine are so often 

 recommended for the same or a neighboring locality ? Or to be 

 more explicit, has it not often been found true, that of the same lit- 

 ter of pigs some die and some live — and of those that live, a part 

 shall do well and the rest shall not ? And what butcher of Swine 

 is not familiar with the fact, that the post mortem examination often 

 reveals the diseased liver, with its large or small ulcers, or worms in 

 the intestines requiring a considerable part of the food taken by the 

 animal for their support ; or other diseased organs, not easily de- 



