PURE BRED PIGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1041, 25 February 1879, Page 3

PURE BRED PIGS.

On several occasions, m noticing the proceedings of our agricultural societies and otherwise, we have drawn attention to the generally inferior sort of swine which the settlers m this part of New Zealand possess. A few years ago an infusion of good bloods "was introduced, and no effort was made to maintain its purity, and the consequence is that the few goodbred pigs once here have been lost m the vast number of mongrel bi utes with which our farms were stocked. Wherever one goes m the country, it is extremely seldom that even a moderately well-bred pig can be seen. This is a great loss to the settlers of Auckland, as it takes more food to bring an ill-bred brute into condition than a well-bred one, and even when the system of forcing is resorted to, the result i«s far from being so satisfactory as if the same amount of care had been expended on a pure-bred animal. Of all Ihe breeds of pigs, the Beikshire is, decidedly tho favorite. It is of a good though not gigantio size, gentle m its disposition, takes on fat easily, of early maturity, and is capable of being fatted to a very great weight when desiied. The meat produced on these kind of animals has a more delicate flavor than that of the larger and coarser Sussex breed, and the early maturity of the Berkshire pig is a recommendation of the highest order. It will be satisfactory to our readers to leavn that our worthy to.vnsman and ex-Mayor, Mr W. J. i Hurst, has made use of bis recent visit to Europe and America m more than one way which will be likely to result m future benefit to New Zealand. Amougst oiher purchases he has made, he haß secuied some of the very best and most successful prizetakers of the Berkshire animals which were procurable m England and America Some of these pur chases will soon be landed on the Auckland whaif, and all lovers of improved farm stock must heartily wish that the splendid animals now on their way here may be landed m safety and m good condition. The following is a description of the pedigree of the purchases which Mr Hurst has made : —

BERTHS SAVfIRNA.

A Berkshii c boar sold to Mr W. J. Hurst on November 11, 1878, by Mr Heber Humphry. Bertie Baverna was farrowed on July 19, 1877. Sire, Lieut. Savem, Old Savernaka— a boar bred by the late Marquis of Aylesbury ; No. 403 d, Long Range, No. 354 b. Dam, Mill Court, Whitesmith—Smithereen, No. 404 b; Courtier, Merestane, Mr Freegard's old favorite sow. Old Saveranka was tho sire of many a winner at tbe Surittield and other shows. Long Range was first prize-taker at the Royal, at Manchester, and sire of the noted Sweet Seventeen family. Suritbereen was , the sire of Pulchritmle, Windermere, Fraemason, &c. Mereßtone was descended irom Hilleide Damsel, the v? inner of six prizes, and so \ ounger sister to Hillismere, the winner of seven frizes. Merestone's dam was a granddaughter of Royal Oak, first prize-taker at the hoyal Show at ' Oxford, and six other prizes. Bertie Saverua was .first prize-taker at the < Rnval Agricultural Show at Bristol, 1878.

THE NEGRESS

Is a Berkshire sow, bred by Mr A. Garfit Scotbern, Lincoln, England, aud sold to Mr W. J. Hnrst on December 19, 1878. She was farrowed January 21, 1878. Sire, the Nigger : dam, Cherry, by Yo-ho ; g dam, Exquisite B, by Young Sambo gg dam, Exquisite, purchased from the Rev. Arthur Bailey. The above sow was one of the fiist pen of three sow pigs under six months old, at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Show held m Bristol, and own sister, but of a younger litter, to the first prize pig m the sow class at tbe show. This sow was served by King Cole on October 22, 1878, and is now m farrow to him.

EUREKA

Is the name of a Berkshire sow purchased from Mr 0. F. Parsons, Eureka Farm, Eureka, Adam's County, lowa. United States. She was farrowed on October 2, 1878. Sire, Ben Buttler 111. Ben Buttler's sire, General Logan, No. 141. Ist dam, Princess Eloesre, No. 790, by Oxford Lord. 2nd dam, Princess Louesie, by Tippacanoe. 3rd dam, Princess, by Gloucester. 4th dam, Princess, by Berkshire Lad. All the Princesses from the fourth down are prize-winners m England, and were bred by Mr John gpencer, Kenilwortb, England. The boar Bertie Saverna is on board tho North Star, now due here, and the Negress has been shipped on board the Sarco, which is expected hero m the course of a month from the present time. This enterprise on the part of Mr Hurst deserves the reward cf success, and we should be glad to see the formation of a ' stud-book for pigs begun here. If this were carried out, and all defective strains of blood strictly excluded, something would be done to maintain a pure breed of pigß m Auckland, whioh m time might have an influence for good on tho whole colony. Now that Mr Hurst has taken tho initiative, we do not think that Messrs Maclean & Co., Messrs T. & S. Morrin, and other spirited stock-breeders, will long remain content Avith the. strains of blood they now possess. Au effort will,' doubtless, soon be made to benefit \fv Mr. Hurst's enterprise, and, with, cjire,

the animals soon to arrive here may be fairly expected to benefit a larger number of people than even the introduction of superior high-bred Shorthorns or Herefords. The pig is the poor man s friend, and, when reasonable attention is paid to a good breed of pigs, no more profitable animals can be kept upon the farm.— ' Herald.*