220 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
BERKSHIRE PIGS, Belonging TO Wm, CROZIER, Esq., Beacon Stock Farm, NORTHPORT, L. I.— Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
the stalks should be cut up or cradled, and per¬ 
mitted to lie for a couple of days to wilt; they 
may then be gathered into small bundles, tied 
up, and shocked, well spread, .and opened at 
the buts for the admission of the air. This is 
an important point. Corn-stalks, thus grown, 
will contain much sugar, and need to be per¬ 
fectly well cured, or fermentation will set in 
and sourness and mold occur. When' suffi¬ 
ciently cured, the stalks may be stacked or put 
away in the barn. They will need a ventilator 
in the shape of three rails, with short pieces of 
boards a foot long nailed to them, to keep them 
apart and make a sort of pipe. This must be 
set up in the center of the stack, and the stalks 
placed round it, buts outward. If. they should 
be put away in a mow, two such ventilators 
must be provided. The top must be kept 
open, or only lightly covered, as much damp 
air will escape. Such fodder will be found 
equal to ordinary hay; in fact, better than most 
hay. Cut up with a stalk-cutter, wetted, and 
sprink.ea with a handful of meal—or corn and 
oats ground together—for each head of cows and 
calves, and a bushel basket of the mixture 
given at each feed, it will carry such stock 
through the winter in excellent condition. 
Milking cows will improve by changing to such 
feed. Working horses may be kept in good 
condition on three quarts of meal and a bushel 
of fodder at a feed, equally well as on hay and 
grain. A still greater economy might be secured 
by steaming; but with a small stock, and on 
average farms, this process is impracticable. 
-- - 
Berkshire Pigs. 
The Berkshire and the Essex are both black 
breeds, each of which has its advocates and 
admirers, who claim that the Berkshire or the 
Essex, as the case may be, is superior to any 
other breed. The chief use of these thorough¬ 
bred animals is to cross with and improve our 
common stock; and for this purpose, if the 
boars be thorough-bred, it makes but little 
practical difference which breed is chosen. In 
England, where the breeds originated, the 
Berkshire is preferred for furnishing hams and 
bacon, while tho Essex is considered the best 
for fresh pork. Crosses of either breed, with 
good common sows, produce pigs much “ re¬ 
lined” in form, and able to fatten rapidly, while 
at slaughtering they yield a minimum amount 
of offal. We present an engraving of two of 
Mr. Crozier’s imported Berkshires, with a small 
pig born in this country from imported parents. 
The Berkshires are covered with long, silky 
hair, and in the best examples, have four white 
feet, a white spot upon the forehead, and white 
on the end of the tail: all the rest being black, 
save a very small amount of white behind 
each shoulder. The Berkshires—and the same 
may be said of other pure breeds—have only 
wilhiu a comparatively few years been appreci¬ 
ated in this country. They were introduced 
here some thirty or forty years ago, at which 
time there was a great excitement over the 
breed, and specimens sold at enormous prices. 
Our farmers had not learned, that these animals 
had reached their then state of perfection, 
through the greatest care in breeding and keep¬ 
ing; and when these high-bred animals were 
subjected to the treatment given ordinary 
swine, they disappointed their owners, and the 
breed fell into disrepute. Doubtless, since the 
first introduction of Berkshires, the English 
breeders have much improved the breed ; and 
the specimens now in the hands of our own 
stock fanciers, are much superior to those about 
which so much was said thirty years ago. 
