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THE AMERICAN FARMER 



Origin of the Present Breeds of Swine, It is asserted by eminent authority that 

 all the known breeds of swine may be divided into two classes or groups, viz.: one having 

 the characteristics of and doubtless descending from the common wild boar ; the other differ 

 ing in several important respects from the latter and of wild, unknown parentage. By cross 

 ing and other conditions favorable to the improvement of the race, for several generations, 

 these distinctive characteristics have gradually become largely changed. It is well known 

 that where swine run at large, often going far in search of food, they will in a few genera 

 tions adapt themselves to this kind of life, and become good travelers, having long legs suited 

 to the purpose ; and if in addition to this they are obliged to root for a portion of their 

 food, their snouts will become proportionately long and powerful. On the other hand, when 

 hogs are well housed and fed, being well cared for in all respects for a long period, they also 

 become changed for the better ; the skin and hair becomes finer, the legs shorter and finer, 

 with a more symmetrical body^ smaller head, ears, and snout; and while as workers for a liv 

 ing they grow slowly and are long in reaching maturity, under the latter favorable conditions, 

 they grow rapidly and mature early; all of which shows that these animals, as well as those 

 of some of the higher order, readily adapt themselves to circumstances. The following is a 

 very correct representation of the wild boar, the pig progenitor of the porkers of to-day, but 

 when compared with our improved breeds the relationship could scarcely be recognized. He 



is described as having a large tusk, 

 a long snout, and a much larger head 

 in proportion to the size of the body 

 than our domestic pig ; also with 

 smaller ears, pointed and upright, and 

 at maturity usually black. He does 

 not attain his full growth until he 

 is five or six years old, and has 

 been known to live twenty or thirty 

 years. The sow breeds but once a 

 year, and seldom has more than five 

 or six at a litter. She suckles them 

 for three or four months, and allows 

 them to follow her two or three 

 years, or until they are strong enough 

 to defend themselves, so that she would often be followed by three litters of different ages 

 at one time. The original or native breeds of Great Britain seem to be two ; the old English 

 hog, and a breed found in the Highlands and islands of Scotland. The former is described 

 as tall, gaunt, a very long body with a thick covering of bristles, pendent ears, and long 

 snout The latter breed were small, of a dusky brown color, with coarse bristles along the. 

 spine, and prick ears. They were exceedingly hardy, subsisting upon the poorest fare, and 

 often left to range about without shelter and take care of themselves as best they could. The 

 improved races, now brought to such a high degree of excellence, were obtained by crossing 

 these native breeds with foreign hogs, the Chinese and Neapolitan being the principal ones for 

 this purpose. The modern white breeds with fine bone, thin skin, short limbs, prick ears, 

 and remarkable propensity to fatten at an early age, take these qualities from the Chinese 

 stock ; while to the Neapolitan is attributed the characteristics which distinguish the im 

 proved black breeds, of which the Essex is a fine type. 



The latter class are characterized by very fine bone, black color, soft skin nearly desti 

 tute of hair, very small muzzle, and early maturity. It will be seen, by comparing the follow 

 ing illustration of the Old English hog with the former, that a great improvement has here 

 been made upon the wild boar to attain to even that standard; and that further improvement 

 could be made by simply good care and judicious selection. As it is, it will weigh more in 



WILD BOAR. 



