4i66 THE PIGS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



mere, of Worslej, have made the small whites famous ; and 

 when the latter is to the fore he usually has a good share of the 

 distinctions. From what source derived we know not, but both 

 Mr. Eden's and Lord EUesmere's animals have been remarkable 

 for an exuberance of long soft curly hair, which, when properly- 

 washed, combed, and curled, has a very attractive character. 

 We believe that Mr. Eden's boar Peacock, which won a great 

 number of prizes (amongst others the first at Cardiff in 1872), 

 was peculiarly noticeable in this respect ; he was sold to Lord 

 Ellesmere at a very high figure, and did good service at 

 Worsley. As far as we remember this boar, he was somewhat 

 slack in his middle, with a magnificent head, great hams, neat 

 quarters, and curly hair some 7in. or Sin. long. At the present 

 time the Earl of Ellesmere takes a decided lead, as Mr. Peter 

 Eden has retired from the show ring, his principal competitors 

 being Messrs. Puckering, Ashworth, Walker-Jones, and Lords 

 Morton and Eadnor, and others, besides those whose fame is 

 not known in the showy ard, but who have admirable specimens 

 of the porcine breed. 



We have said that the small whites are more adapted for 

 gentlemen and amateurs than for ordinary occupiers ; and we 

 make this statement for at least two reasons — the small size 

 they reach, comparative delicacy, and small breeding properties. 

 Whilst the large sort frequently produce really large litters, 

 these seldom exceed seven to nine. Much attention is required 

 in the early stage. Sudden exposure to extremes of temperature 

 is very injurious. The great merit of the breed is its beauty 

 and extraordinary feeding properties. It is impossible to keep 

 them poor ; the tendency to lay on fat is remarkable ; hence 

 they are well suited for porking purposes, but lack the lean 

 meat so desirable for bacon. 



Of late years the middle breed, derived from a cross between 

 the large and small sorts, has come so much into use that it is 

 sometimes difficult to find a pure small breed, and they are 

 valuable when they have been kept intact as improvers of 

 coarser sorts. Thus the pure-bred boar effects a marvellous 

 change in a very short time, and we have found great advantage 

 from this cross upon the Berkshire, whereby we retain the lean 

 meat and increase the fattening properties. It is a curious fact 



