96 



race,* with more size, finer sj^mmetry, and much better constitution. 

 Stephens, author of the ' Book of the Farm,' and the ' Farmer's 

 Guide,' says : ' As to the breed which shows the greatest disposition 

 to fatten, together with a due proportion of lean, I never saw one 

 equal to that which was originated by Lord Western, in Essex. They 

 were exceedingly gentle, indisposed to travel far, not very prolific, 

 however, but could attain, if kept on, to a great weight, and so com- 

 pact in form and small of bone and offal, that they invariably yielded a 

 greater weight of pork than was judged of before being slaughtered. 

 The oifal was small, and more delicious ham was never cured than 

 they afforded.' Martin says, ' these animals fatten quickly, grow 

 rapidly, and yield very superior meat. The hogs when fattened will 

 sometimes weigh 26 or 28 stones, (14 lbs.,) often 18 or 20,' equal 

 to 252 to 392 pounds. 



" Colonel Lewis G. Morris, of Fordham, Westchester county, New 

 York, has made several importations of this breed, some specimens 

 of which were purchased of W. Fisher Hobbs, and were of that 

 gentleman's best stock. 



'■^Points of a good Hog. — The points Avhich indicate the fattening 

 tendency in a hog, are, the head small, with short snout and dished 

 face ; the ear small and thin ; the neck short and thick ; the chest 

 broad and capacious ; f the ribs round ; the back straight ; the loin 

 broad ; the rump long from hips backward ; the legs straight and 

 tolerably small ; the skin soft and smooth, with thin, fine bristles. 



" It should be borne in mind, however, that all these points do not 

 indicate an animal best adapted to every situation. The thin skin 

 and absence of bristles, though favorable to the accumulation of fat, 

 when the animal is well sheltered and protected, do not denote 

 the hardiness which may be necessary under exposure. If the 

 animal is destined to support himself in a considerable degree, under 

 the various transitions of weather, instead of the thin hide and scanty 

 bristles of the refined varieties, he must be clad in covering which 



♦ Though the entire body of the " Improved Essex " is covered with a pigment 

 of black, these swine dress handsome, showing as white and fair a skin as the 

 Suffolk.— Com. 



t The writer is aware that Liebig and some others have held that small chests 

 were most favorable to the fattening tendency, but common observation does not 

 support the idea. 



