OHAPTEE Til. 



THE BLACK DORSET PIG 



T has been justly observed by a writer on agricultural 

 subjects that a good pig should have " a small 

 head, short nose, plump cheek, compact body, short 

 neck, thin skin, and short legs." All these charac- 

 teristics are possessed in an eminent degree by the black 

 Dorsets, as bred and improved by Messrs. John Coate, of 

 Hammoon, near Blandford, and John A. Smith, of Bradford 

 Peverall, Dorchester, distributed by them throughout England, 

 and exported to many parts of the world. 



It may be interesting to trace the origin of this class of stock, 

 and it is not difficult to do so, the principal parties to whom is 

 due the credit of having established it being still alive, actively 

 engaged in agriculture, and possessing all the energy and 

 perseverance necessary to preserve, and probably further 

 improve, their favourites. 



Mr. John Coate is well known as a most successful exhibitor 

 of black Dorset pigs at the Christmas shows held in London. 

 For twenty-five years, with one exception only, he has carried 

 off first prizes, two silver cups, and on seven occasions gold 

 medals, proving most conclusively the superiority of his 

 animals, as well as evidencing the care and judgment with 

 which they have been bred and fattened. He has informed us 

 that about thirty years ago he obtained two young black sows, 

 whose progenitors were imported from Turkey. These he put 

 to a boar of the Chinese breed ; for their offspring he had an 

 opportunity of securing the services of a prize pig of the 

 Neapolitan species, and their produce was in every way satis- 



