Chapter LXIX. 



ESSEX. 



This breed takes its name from the county or shire of Essex, Eng- 

 land, where it originated. The old Essexshire hog was large, gaunt 

 and "slab-sided," with a color varying for each individual animal. 

 About 1830 Lord Western imported from Italy a boar and sow of the 

 breed of Naples. According to Professor Long, he failed in his 

 attempts to breed these black Neapolitans pure, and finally began cross- 

 ing on the native breed. From Long's Book of the Pig we quote : 



"The result was highly satisfactory, and the new variety was commonly successful 

 at every agricultural show at which they were exhibited." 



Lord Western bred them a number of years, but they at last began 

 to lose somewhat their vigorous thrift and hardy constitution. At this 

 juncture a tenant of his lordship Mr. Fisher Hobbes turned his atten- 

 tion to their breeding, still further improved them, fixed the type, and 

 called them the "Improved Essex." 



In America the Essex has become well known, particularly so at 

 the South, Col. Richard Peters, of Atlanta, Ga., being one of the first 

 importers, and, with Mr. Harris, of Rochester, N. Y. , steadil) r pushing 

 the Essex breed with all energy. In a letter to the Author, 1888, 

 Col. Peters says : 



"I commenced breeding from the English stock in the year 1856, and have kept 

 them pure, with some of the original blood in their veins, having obtained, with much 

 difficulty, an occasional pure-bred to avoid close in-and-in breeding." 



DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



The modern American-bred Essex is a small to medium-sized hog, 

 weighing from 250 to 400 pounds at maturity ; black, or more properly, 

 ash-black in color with fine head, short nose, beautifully dished face, 

 erect thin ears, heavy jowl, short neck, close, "chunked" body, and 

 short, firm boned legs. They fatten easily, range well, are not troubled 

 with mange or sun-scald, and dress as large a proportion of live weight 

 as any known breed. Where the large hogs thrive, and corn is cheap, 

 as in the Western United States, we doubt much if the Essex can ever 

 compare profitably with the Poland-China or Duroc-Jersey ; but in the 

 South, where, unfortunately, Cotton is still King, we have not found his 

 equal. We have heard some objections to the Essex because he "gets 

 too fat ;" we can only suggest, in answer to this, that we beg to be 



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