SWINE. 55 



neighbor Ohio must have the " Leicester," " Bedford," " Chinese," 

 and the " Calcutta ;" and while Missouri takes a cross of the "black 

 Berkshire" and the "white Irish," Florida says that "for the 

 range, or shift-for-jourself system, the long nosed Pike stands A 

 No. 1." 



And when it appears as it does from the same source, that a 

 hundred pounds of corn yield in some cases "but eight pounds of 

 pork," and in others "forty pounds," it would seem that there must 

 be something more than the peculiarities of breed to be taken into 

 the account in explaining these results. Not indeed, let it be dis- 

 tinctly understood, that the accidents of diseased organs, &c., 

 referred, to would account for all this variety of opinion ; and least 

 of all would we intimate that gentlemen answer the Commissioner 

 without suitable reflection. But great as is the confusion and ap- 

 parent number of breeds, and the mixing up of breeds, there mi^ht 

 be found to be less of both, we think, if the "accidents" were fewer, 

 or if we were better able to detect them. 



It is a fair question, and an important one to begin with, What 

 and how many breeds of hogs are there really distinct ? Some are 

 so, clearly — but the question is not easily determined and no dis- 

 cussion of it is proposed in this Report. The generally received 

 opinion is, that the Suffolk is a distinct, original breed. Let it be 

 so considered. Now is it the best breed for general use in the 

 county of Essex ? It is not, even though it is true that the pork 

 of this breed is much esteemed and generally commands from one 

 to two cents a pound extra in Boston market. The reason is 

 obvious — they come to maturity at a very early age, and never, or 

 rarely weigh more than 250 to 300 pounds. There is a real diffi- 

 culty in keeping them from taking on fat it is said, in order to their 

 getting any considerable growth at all. Dr. J. Kittredge informed 

 the Committee , while examining his pure Suffolk boars, that he 

 could with difficulty keep them low enough in flesh to answer for 

 breeders or to bring to the show. Their keeping had been one 

 quart of meal a day, with the house slops, and raw apples, both 

 sweet and sour ; and upon this keeping they were fat, notwith- 

 standing the large one had served for 42 sows, and the small one 

 for 20 to 30, since last spring. It seems therefore now clear, that 

 the Suffolks, being easy to fat, (indeed, being always fat, it is said, 

 after being a month old,) arc a suitable breed to cross with. 



