PIGS. 49 



however : this interesting native should be, as every- 

 thing else upon the farm, first-rate — broad, lengthy, 

 deep, short-snouted, of fine bone, with tail well set 

 on ; a thin pricked ear, and skin gathering in folds 

 even to the hock to be plumped out before Christ- 

 mas, and of a breed that will fatten on clover, grass, 

 or vetches in summer, mangold-wurzel in winter, 

 sliced and slightly sprinkled with barley-meal. In- 

 numerable are the excellent varieties of breed now- 

 a-days possessing such characteristics. Wherever he 

 may hail from (and hail he does lustily on occasion, 

 as you may learn for yourself if you attend an 

 embarkation of them at Liverpool or Cork), whether 

 from Berkshire, Essex, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Tamworth, 

 Windsor, Hampshire, Dorset — each county and dis- 

 trict almost having its improved breed, all supremely 

 indebted to a Chinese or Neapolitan forefather — you 

 will have no great difficulty in obtaining what you 

 want. To Herefordshire was due the pork provision 

 when the Duke was in the Peninsula. Grudge not 

 a few extra shillings (which you may easily save by 

 travelling third-class a journey or two by way of 

 change) in the purchase of an exemplary sow-in-pig 

 to begin with. It is loss of time to buy second-rate 

 stock, however excellent your judgment may be, with 

 the purpose of improving it. Climb as far as you 

 can on the shoulders of others who have pioneered 

 before you, and then take up the path. You will be 

 passed in turn, never fear, by some one now a small 

 boy munching at a crust. Start, however, as forward 

 as you can, and do your best while your hour lasts. 

 Great numbers of pigs come across from Ireland now 



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