BLACK SUFFOLK PIGS. 459 



in colour, hair, and form they appear to us perfect representa- 

 tives of a small breed. 



The repeated exhibition of animals so uniformly good led 

 to an extensive sale, and their introduction into the northern 

 counties and Scotland, where a few years ago white sorts were 

 universal. We believe they are found more hardy than the 

 latter. The skin never cracks from the sun, and that attention 

 to the toilette is not required which is often necessary in 

 order to prepare white pigs for exhibition. The engraving 

 which accompanies this description is from a drawing, by Mr. 

 Harrison Weir, of Mr. Sexton's boar and sow, the winners, 

 of first prizes at the Eoyal Hull Show in 1873. It will be 

 noticed that in general form, character of head, and smallness of 

 bone, the Suffolk breeders have moulded the blacks into about 

 the same form as the small Yorkshire white sort; the only 

 difference save colour is in the length of the body, which is a 

 remarkable feature of the Suffolks. 



One of the most important sales of pigs, if not the most 

 important, ever held in England, was that which took place at 

 Butley Abbey in 1869, after the death of the late Mr. J. Crisp^ 

 at which splendid specimens of the large, medium, and small 

 whites, Berkshires, and black Suffolks attracted breeders and 

 the fancy from all parts of England, and even Europe and 

 America were represented. The competition was spirited 

 throughout, and great prices were realised, more especially for 

 the black Suffolks. 50 guineas was given for a favourite old 

 boar, and 27 guineas for his son, a ten-weeks-old pig, Yorkshire 

 and Suffolk competing. The latter, staying the longest, secured 

 these valuable animals for the county, and doubtless the invest- 

 ment proved profitable. Two other Butley sales followed as. 

 the executors wound up the business. Thus about 250 breeding 

 pigs were distributed throughout the country, which realised 

 upwards of 2000L 



In 1872 Mr. G. M. Sexton had his first sale, at which 100 

 black boars and sows and fifty small whites realised upwards 

 of 1300?. Here again the black sorts were in much demand, 

 in many cases being bought for crossing with the Berkshires. 

 Since this sale two boars, one sow, and three gelts were sold 

 from the same herd for 200Z. Since 1860 the following prizes 



