SWINE DESCRIPTION OF BREEDS. 965 



shoulders bulging and deep; legs short and fine; the back broad, 

 straight, and level, and the body long ; the hams round and swell- 

 ing, and high at the base of the tail, with plaits or folds between 

 the thighs ; the tail fine and free from wrinkles or rolls ; feath- 

 ers or rosettes on the back are common; the skin is thin, soft, 

 and elastic ; the flesh fine grained and firm, with small bone and 

 thick side pork. The pigs easily keep in condition, and can be 

 made ready for slaughter at any age." They can easily be 

 made to weigh from three hundred to four hundred pounds at 

 twelve months old, and even these weights have been exceeded. 

 They possess great prepotency, transmitting with uniformity 

 their color and good qualities to their offspring. They are ex- 

 cellent breeders, and the pigs are hardy. 



