ORGANIZATION OF SWINE-BEEEDfNG. 431 



l>elly from the grouud ; bone fine, feet small, hoofs rather spreading. Tail small, long, 

 and tapering. Skin, hair, and color: skin thin, of a pinkish shade, free from color; 

 hair fme and silky, not too thicks color of hair* pale yellowish ■white, perfect! j' free 

 from any ypots or other color. Size small to medium. 



Usscx. — Mr. M. H. Cryer, from the committee on this breed, reported 

 that the Essex is a black hog, originating; in the south of England, 

 small or medium in size, with small soft ears; carcass long, broad, and. 

 deep, hams heavy and well let down, bone line, hair thin. They are re- 

 markable for easy fattening, and are great lard producers. They are 

 fair nurses and prolific breeders. 



Neapolitan. — Mr. M. 0. Weld submitted a report, in which ho says, 

 "It seems strange that a breed of swine, noted, as the jSTeapolitan is, for 

 possessing qualities of superior excellence, should have been so neg- 

 lected by American breeders. It is distinguished as the basis of im- 

 provement of several of the best breeds of English swine, and produces 

 that striking uniformity of characteristics among different individuals 

 which marks a long-established breed as well as good breeding." He 

 refers to the fact that Martin credits the great improvement of English 

 swine, during thirty years past, chiefly to the agency of the Neapolitan 

 and Chinese breeds. " Like the thorough-bred horse, the Neapolitan 

 has a delicate look, a peculiar grace and stylishness, a loolc of intelli- 

 gence, with a vivacity and sprightliness unusual in swine, and which in 

 this breed do not seem to be incompatible with surprising aptitude to 

 lay on flesh, or to grow rapidly on a small amount of food." In the vi- 

 cinity of New York many gentlemen, who in their travels have eaten 

 the pork of Naples and vicinity, have imported Neapolitans and bred 

 them for their own use, on account of '• fine grain and delicious flavor of 

 the pork." The breed is of great antiquity, and imparts its peculiarities 

 with great uniformity. The report claims this as one of the purest and 

 most valuable of known breeds — easily kept, but difficult to keep down 

 in good breeding condition; one of the gentlest and most easily man- 

 aged, and least fastidious in its food ; the sows good mothers, famishing 

 abundance of milk, and reasonably prolific ; furnishing juicy hams and 

 shoulders, well marbled and not coated with masses of fat, abundance of 

 leaf-lard, and the most delicate of side-pork for family use ; while the 

 oflal is a minimum quantity. The committee adopt the following char- 

 acteristics : 



Head small; forehead bony and ilat; face slightly dishing; snout rather long and 

 veiy slender; ep„rs small, thin, standing outward and forward nearly horizontally, and 

 quite lively ; jowls very full, but not large ; neck short, broad and heavy above, with 

 a small dew-lap ; trunk long, cylindrical, and well ribbed back. Back flat, and ribs 

 arching even in low llesh. Belly horizontal on the lower line. Hind-quarters higher 

 than the fore, but not very much so. Legs very firm, the bones and joints being 

 smaller than those of any other breed. llama and shoulders well developed and 

 meaty. Tail fine, curled, flat at the extremity, and fringed with hair on each side. 

 General color, slaty or bluish plum-color, with a casit of coppery red. Skin soft and 

 fine, nearly free from hair, which when found upon the sides of the head and behind 

 the forelegs is black and soft and rather long. Flesh firm and clastic to the touch. 



YorlcsJtires. — Mr. O. P.Cobb suUmitted a report in viiich this breed 

 is claimed as "the most thorough-bred hog known, and the most valua- 

 ble to cross from any in the country, for the reasons : 1. They are of a 

 size, shape, and flesh that are desiralile for the family or for the packer's 

 use. 2. They have a hardy, vigorous constitution, and a good coat of 

 hair, protecting the skin so well, either in hot or cold weather, that it 

 rarely freezes or blisters. They are very quiet and good grazers ; they 

 feed well, and fatten quickly at any age. They are very prolific and 

 good mothers, and the young never vary in color, and so little in shape 

 that their form when matured may be determined in advance by an in- 

 spection of the sire and dam." 



