752 Live Stock. SK tne Shropftire, Gloucejlcrjhire, $c* Breed*. 



The Shropfiirt heed is another large fort of hogs, which are found valuable 



where the keep is in fufficient abundance for their fupport. They are not fo well 



formed as thofe of theBerkfliire kind, or equal to them in their difpofition to fatten. 



The Gloticeftcr/jire Irecd is likcwife a large breed, but inferior to either of the 



above, being tall and long; in fhape, and by no means well formed. The colour is 



in general white. Mr. Marfhall fuppofes this to have been formerly the prevailing 



breed of the ifland. It is fuppofed to be thinner in the fkin than the Berkfhire 



breed. 



The Hereford/hire breed is alfo a large ufeful breed, but without pofTeffing any 

 advantage over thofe that have been mentioned. 



It is remarked by the author of the Survey of Middlefex, that thelargeft breed 

 in the ifland is fuppofed to be kept about Rudgcwick, on the borders of Suffex and 

 Surrey. They feed to an extraordinary fize, and weigh at two years old nearly 

 double or treble the ufual weight of other forts of hogs of that age. As large 

 breeds pay the farmer the beft in many cafes, fuch a breed dcferves to be attended 



to. 



Among the fmaller breeds of thefe animals there is much variety. 

 The Cbinefe breed is diftinguifhed by the neck being thick, the body very dofe, 

 compact, and well formed ; the legs very mort, and the fize fmall ; the flefti deli 

 cate ; the colour various, as white, brown, and tawny. This breed is particularly 

 difpofed to fatten in an expeditious manner, and has, in confequence, fpread over a 

 great part of the kingdom. It is the moft adapted for being ufed as pork, but is 

 much too fmall for being cured as bacon. 



Another breed of the fmall kind of hogs is met with in many diftricts j it is of a 

 white colour, thick, compact, and well made in, the body ; mort in the leg ; the 

 bead and neck well formed, and the ears flouching a little downwards. It is well 

 difpofed to fatten, and perfectly hardy. 



The Swing-tailed breed, is an ufeful fort of the fmaller kind of hogs, being har 

 dy in its nature, and of confiderable weight in proportion to its fize. 



Some farmers prefer mixed breeds, as being more beneficial than either the 

 largeor fmall perfect breeds. Where this is the cafe, theBerkfhire, with a crofsof 

 theChinefe, has been found a very profitable fort, as being capable of feeding to a 

 confiderable weight with a moderate proportion of food. 



In order to have hogs of the moft perfect kinds the fame attention fhould be 

 paid in the breeding of. them as in other forts of animals, by felecting the moft 



