456 FAKMING FOR LADIES, [chap, xxiil. 



rive to such heavy weights as those of coarser 

 bone, yet its meat will be finer. 



The Chinese — which, as the name imports, 

 was introduced into this country from the 

 Indies — is, however, the favourite breed for 

 household use, as they fatten kindly and the 

 flesh is extremely delicate ; but they are 

 small, and so deficient in the size of the 

 hind quarters, that the hams are of very 

 little weight ; neither does the flesh produce 

 that firmness of quality which is so much 

 admired in bacon. They are, therefore, usu- 

 ally killed at an early age for roasting and 

 pickled pork ; and where one or two can be 

 fattened as porkers upon the milk of a cow, 

 they should always be chosen for those pri- 

 vate families who do not feed pigs for bacon : 

 if not of the pure breed, yet some of those 

 crosses which retain its best qualities — among 

 which, those between the Berkshire and the 

 Chinese are the most generally preferred. 



Of the pure, original breed, there are two 

 distinct species, the white and the black; 

 the former better shaped than the latter, but 

 less hardy and prolific. Both are, however, 

 round in the carcase, small-limbed, with fine 



