DEVELOPMENT OP THE BREEDS 85 



ing the early history of the Chester White, following its 

 establishment as a distinct breed, it was crossed to some 

 extent with black breeds, which resulted in spotted hogs 

 being produced. These spots were again eliminated, 

 however, leaving the Chester White as a white hog. The 

 popularity of this breed during its early history created 

 a great demand for Chester Whites. They were shipped 

 throughout the country as well as to Canada and to the 

 West Indies. 



Some unprincipled breeders who did not have the fu- 

 ture good of the breed at heart, sold not only pure brad 

 individuals, but all white hogs that could be obtained, 

 whether pure bred or not, as pure bred Chester Whites. 

 These, of course, would not breed true to type and color, 

 and many times produced black or spotted pigs, which 

 resulted in a very severe set-back to the breed. It has 

 perhaps not recovered to the present time from the un- 

 popularity it obtained at that time on account of a few 

 breeders who were in the business for the money they 

 could make rather than for the good of the breed and 

 honesty in their own business. One breeder is said to 

 have bred and raised a few individuals between 1866 and 

 1877 and to have shipped annually, for breeding purposes, 

 as high as 2,500 to 2,900 hogs. Further improvement was 

 made by selection toward reducing the coarseness and 

 improving the quality. 



Todd's Improved Chester. In 1833 Joseph Raskins 

 brought to Wakefield, Ohio, from Massachusetts, a By- 

 field boar. This was an early hog of that country prob- 

 ably the result of various crosses of different breeds. It 

 was a large, slow-maturing hog, but a splendid individual. 

 Its color was white and its legs rather long. Mr. Has- 

 kins also brought with him a sow of what was called the 

 Otterdale breed, which was probably of similar origin. 



