THE BERKSHIRE 479 



maturity the Poland-China would have the advantage, while many 

 would accord first place to the Duroc-Jersey and Chester White. 

 The Berkshire as a grazing pig ranks high wherever fairly 

 tried. On the clover fields of the middle West they thrive to 

 perfection, while rape pasture in the more northerly sections 

 seems well suited to them. In general pasturage in America 

 Berkshires quite hold their own. Writing of the Berkshires as 

 foragers, Walker states that they are hardly surpassed so long 

 as in a temperate climate. He says : 



You may see herds of a score or two each, any year towards October, 

 running over the wide stubble fields on the borders of Wiltshire, nearly 

 average pork, and yet they have made their growth and their flesh pretty 

 much on waste material, i.e. shed corn, weeds, roots, pasturage, and so on. 



The Berkshire as a feeder and fattener has had extensive trial 

 both in Europe and in America. In the records made a high place 

 has been accorded the breed. Numerous American experimental 

 stations have used pigs of the breed in feeding experiments from 

 which the following records are quoted. In 23 trials, involving 

 123 Berkshires fed at eight institutions in the United States 

 and Canada, it required 369 pounds of feed for each 100 pounds 

 of gain in live weight, the Tamworth, Chester White, and Poland- 

 China surpassing the Berkshire in this respect. In breed tests 

 at the Iowa Experiment Station the Berkshire made an average 

 daily gain of .98 pound, the Poland-China .90, and the Chester 

 White .89 pound, the cost per 100 pounds gain being $2.33, 

 $2.23, and $2.46 respectively. At the Ontario Agricultural Col- 

 lege the average of trials for four years show almost identically 

 the same daily gains, requiring a less amount of meal than any 

 other breed, that is, 378! pounds for 100 pounds of gain. At 

 the Massachusetts Experiment Station seven Berkshires, fed 140 

 days, made an average daily gain of 1.16 pounds each, requiring 

 289 pounds of feed for 100 pounds gain. From the records 

 quoted above or published elsewhere it may be seen that the 

 Berkshire as a feeder ranks well, though the average of breed 

 trials do not give it first place. Among British authorities on 

 swine Professor Long takes high rank, and in his Book of the Pig 

 he writes of "its comparative slowness as a feeder," and says 

 that it is generally found that a fast-feeding Berkshire has not 



