SWINE. 57 



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. Kittredge's Suffolk boar. Such a crossing 

 we should strongly recommend. 



The Committee can but admire the method of Dr. Kittredge, 

 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, referred 

 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 last year, in relation to one point. It is a 

 report prepared with great care, and contains, moreover, a treatise 

 upon Swine, by Sanford Howard, of unusual value. 



The point about to be mentioned, taken from the Report, referred 

 to, is discussed by another writer. This writer starts the idea, and 

 refers to " Giles, in Philosophical Transactions for 1821," as an 

 authority for the theory, that the male, hy whom the female is des- 

 tined to receive her first progeny, stamps a character upon every 

 subsequent produce, even hy other males ! As no facts are cited in 

 support of this theory, it will be doubted by many, of course. If, 

 however, it should have the effect of inducing those having valuable 

 sows, to be careful in selecting the boar to which the young sow 

 shall go for the first time, the hint will not be lost. And to apply 

 the rule in our county, it would seem a clear case, that, if those 

 having large framed sows of any breed, and living within a reason- 

 able distance of a pure blooded Suffolk, would take the pains to 

 carry them to such boars, they would be well compensated by the 

 extra price they would obtain for their pigs, or by the quantity and 

 quality of the pork if they should keep them, or sell them at market. 



DAVID CHOATE, Chairman. 



