The hog in America, past and present; with suggestions upon farm, pens, breeds, breeding, pedigreeing, standard of excellence, selection of animals, management of swine, selling and other subjects of importance to swine breeders

Front matter

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Preface

Custom ratlu'i- than necessity rtM|uires a preface 1)y an author when a ll)Ook is i^reseuted to the public. Not wisliiny to hrealv this innocent and liarinless custom, the author says, that this \\orl: was not written at the request of " many friends," nor for the purpose of tilling any long-felt Avant, nor yet as a careful and elaborate literary production ; on the contrary, the writer thought he had something^to say that might be of ben- ■efit to the public, and concluded to say it. in a plain, practical way. It is not a work made up of newspaper clippings, but has been carefully prepared as to matters of history from all sources within reach and the facts, as near as possible, arrived at by comparison of the ditferent and partial statements of individuals, and harmonizing the ditt'erent views, as nearly as possible, by taking into consideration all the circumstances of the several early Avriters. their prejudices and interest in the subject matter of their articles. When various opinions and conclusions of different persons are grouped together, often causing a conflict, the reader is bewildered and derives little benefit. The author has, therefore, in all cases given his own judgment and experience, and let it pass for its true value, which an intelligent and discriminating public will unerringly fix. That there will be found many errors and imperfections, is very probable, and any fair and honest criticism will not oflend, but Avill, on tlie contrary, be a source of future profit.

That the author is partial to the Poland-China breed of swine is plainly avowed and manifest, and if such preference, or if it seems to the reader prejudice, has caused the writer to unjustly criticize other breeds, it is not the result of a design so to do, but rather the Imperfection common to most men, viz. : the difficulty of " seeing ourselves as others see us," but this can oidy apply to the chapters relating to history of breeds and the introduction of hogs. The other chapters, if of benefit to any, are to all. This book is not designed to give any history of the hog, except in America, save such as may be necessary to properly describe those that now, or have lieretofore, existed on this continent. In the preparation of this Avork, the author is indebted to the following, among many other sources, for information, viz. : Early Colonial Historj, Memoirs of the Philadelphia Agricultural Society, Encj'clopedias, Youatt and Martin on the Hog, American Farmer (O. S.), Ploiujliboy, New York Farmer, Genessee Farmer, Albany Cultivator, Western Farmer and Gardener, Farmers^ Cabinet, Franklin Farmer, American Agriculrist, Ohio Cultivator, New York State Agricultural Eeports, Indiana State Agricultural Reports, National Live Stock Journal, Breeders^ Gazette, and Stvine Breeders'' Journal. The illustrations are many of them drawn by the author and are necessaril.y crude, because the author is not an artist nor the son of an artist. It is, however, the belief of the author that the illustrations will be of considerable aid to the readers of this work, and this is especially true of those used in illustrating the standard. That the work has many new features in its class will not be denied — whether thej' are useful and valuable, is submitted to a generous public.

S. M. S.

Indianapolis. Ind., December 16, 1886.

THE HOG IN AMERICA.

I^TRODUCTIOlSr.

This introductory cliajiter is designed only as an outline and chronological history of swine in the United States, and therefore, although anost'Of the breeds are mentioned in their order, there is no attempt at describing their peculiarities. That work A\ill be left for a later chapter, where may be found all in relation to the several breeils thought to ibe of interest, which now, or maj' have had a habitation and name in America.

The hog is not a native of America, but it followed very closely upon the footsteps of the white man, and its easy adaptation to our climate, iind marvelous multiplication, are among tlie man}^ evidences of its importance as a factor of the wealth and prosperity of the land of its adoption.

The early history of the introduction of swine into the New World is very meagre, and we shall have to content ourselves with generalities find much luicertaint}'. The general course and progress of the hog liere is quite plain, but the cross-roads and byiDaths which from time to time, exerted more or less influence, are now scarcely distinct enough to afford us much aid, except as matters of curiosity.

History informs us that the first swine which came to the New World were Avith Columbus upon his second voyage. They were loaded in Spain and landed in Cuba, in 1493. The next mentioned were brought into what is now Florida in 1538. In 1553, the Portugese took swine to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. All these importations were doubtless of Spanish origin, but we are left to conjecture their number, form and color. In 1G04 the French took swine into Canada. In 1G08 the London Companj'- took from England to the Jamestown colony in Virginia Kibout six hundred head of swine. This is the first instance where even ^n approximation of numbers is given, but we have no further information as to the cliaracter of the importation. In 1624 swine were taken to the colony of Massachusetts Bay, but whether tliey were

THE PlOG IX AMERICA.

brought from England or Virginia we are not informed. In 1625, the Dutcli West India Company imported swine from Holland into what is now New York and New Jersey. Later, about 1037, a colony from Sweden settled in -what is now Delaware, bringing with them the Horse-hoofed swine of their native land. Here is the first peculiarity mentioned of the imports of swine, and that is all that is said.

From time to time, as the various colonies were settled and emigrants came to our shores, we are informed in a general matter of course sort of a Avay that they brought Avith them the domestic animals of their native lands. There are several reasons why the information now sought was then considered unimportant, and among others we suggest the following : Many of the early settlers were adventurers, they came expecting to find the precious metals in abundance, and they supplied themselves with necessaries to aid them in accomplishing the end contemplated. They little dreamed of the grand results that have followed ; on the contrary their minds were occupied with the then present, and we find about as nuich particularity given of their outfit as would now be given in describing an expedition to the North Pole, or as can be found of the early expeditions to California. In none of them can be found any account of the breeds of animals taken, because they were taken as a means of sustenance, not for culture. Secondly, at that early jieriod improvement in domestic animals in the mother countries was in its infancy, and was exciting but little if any attention ; and the hog least of all. So that with them a hog was simply a hog — "only that and nothing more." The secondary influx of Pilgrims was more laudable, for they were seeking homes for themselves and posterity as a means or end to freedom of opinion. This was their guiding star and occupied their thoughts, and of this they made record. Every other matter was secondary or trivial ; and what they should eat and wear only thought of as necessities. And still another reason why hogs received so little mention or thought, was that when they were brought their subsistence was of necessity largely upon spontaneovis productions, such as iiuts, roots, herbs, etc. This meant almost unlimited freedom for the hog and put it upon its own resources for a livelihood. Improvement, even if desired, could not be thought of when the control was largelj'" lost. As before intimated, the mind of the settler was occupied with something as he supposed, and really was, of more importance. They were learning to govern themselves and to provide present sustenance.

But the pilgrim was human, and like all the rest of the human family he would relate troubles, lience wheii the swine had nudtiplied so rapidly as to become a source of trouble, we find the records showing that in a few yeai-s, notably about 1630, the inhabitants of Jamestown were compelled to palisade the town to keep out the hogs. Other colonies, such as Massachusetts Bay, prohibited corn from being fed to swine,