DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREEDS 91 



the western part of the United States, now the central 

 part, was being settled. Immigrants came from different 

 countries, as well as from the eastern states, and settled 

 in different sections of the West. Hogs were brought 

 from nearly all sections of the world where good hogs 

 were being bred. These in some cases, after being 

 brought here, were bred pure, but in most instances were 

 crossed, which established types of swine in this country 

 in a somewhat similar manner to the breeds that were 

 originally developed in England. But these different 

 types that were developed in the United States cannot 

 be called breeds because they were a mixture of several 

 breeds and not bred long enough to establish a uniform 

 type. Consequently they were more of the nature of 

 mongrels. 



Cincinnati at that time was the western metropolis and 

 was the center of the pork packing industry. Conditions 

 in the country around that metropolis, including the cli- 

 mate, soil, etc., were admirable for the production of 

 swine. Feed was abundant and cheap, and the hogs were 

 able to gather a good share of their living during the 

 summer season in the forests. The climate was warm, 

 which did not necessitate very much expense for shelter, 

 and shade and water were abundant, which improved the 

 conditions for pork production. The roads, however, 

 were not well developed. Railroads were practically un- 

 known, and wagon roads were poor and few in number. 

 Hogs, therefore, were developed in such a manner that 

 they could walk to market. This again was favorable for 

 the production of a good type of hog. The inhabitants 

 were of a thrifty, industrious sort, and consequently took 

 good care of their stock. They came to this part of the 

 country from various sections of the older states, north, 



