LECTURE NO. 13. 



IMPROVED ESSEX SWINE ORIGIN AND HISTORY, 



CHARACTERISTICS AND STANDARD POINTS. 



I. The Improved Essex swine are the outcome 

 of crossing the Neapolitan upon the old Essex breed. 



(1) The old Essex breed, native to the county of Essex, 

 were black and white in color, large and coarse in build, long 

 in the leg and snout, flat-sided and roach-backed, unquiet in 

 disposition and were great consumers of food. 



(2) The Neapolitans were first imported from Italy by 

 Lord Western in 1830. 



(3) For a number of years the progeny were designated 

 Essex-Neapolitan. 



II. Effects of the Neapolitan cross. 



(1) It changed the color to black, reduced the bone and 

 offal generally, shortened the leg and snout, improved the 

 general form and increased the aptitude to fatten, but 



(2) The Essex-Neapolitans became less vigorous and less 

 prolific because of the closeness of the breeding, and they were 

 reduced in size. 



III. How further improvement was effected. 



(1) Impaired qualities were restored by crossing the 

 Essex-Neapolitans upon selected sows essentially of Essex 

 blood. 



(2) This work began about 1840 and was chiefly effected 

 by Fisher Hobbs, one of Lord Western's tenants. 



IV. Distribution of the Improved Essex. 



(1) The Improved Essex have not been distributed so 

 widely as many other breeds. 



(2) In Britain they are most numerously found in the 

 counties of Essex and Suffolk. 



(3) They have also been exported, but not in large num- 

 bers, to several Anglo-Saxon speaking countries. 



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