SWINE. 371 



the composition of muscle. In some, the fat is accumulated 

 chiefly on the belly, and is of a soft, oily nature ; in others, it is 

 laid more on the back, and is comparatively firm and hard. 



" Of course, the breed should be chosen with reference to the 

 purposes in view. If lard-oil is the principal object, the animal 

 which will give the greatest quantity of soft fat for the food 

 consumed will be most profitable. For barrelling, ' clear pork ' 

 is the main object ; and the animal which will give the greatest 

 quantity of solid fat on the back and sides, is preferable. This 

 is the description of pork which is chiefly consumed in the 

 Eastern States and in the fisheries. In the Southern and 

 Western States, pork is used chiefly in the form of ' bacon ' — 

 the whole of the meat is ' dry-cured ' and smoked. Where this 

 ' is the object, the clear fat which is so much prized in other 

 cases, is not desirable ; but a carcass which gives a considera- 

 ble proportion of lean with the fat is much better. 



" The swine of the United States have been derived chiefly 

 from Great Britain, though occasional importations have been 

 made from other countries. The British stock of the present 

 day consists of various mixtures of the aboriginal race of that 

 island with various Asiatic stocks — mostly Chinese and Siam- 

 ese. Youatt, in his treatise, published in 1846, observed that 

 the old breeds were 'rapidly losing all traces of individuality 

 under the various systems of crossing to which they are sub- 

 jected.' The old stock, which, ' with trifling degrees of difi'er- 

 ence,' it is said, ' was spread over the greater part of Eng- 

 land,' is described by Martin as ' large, coarse, unthrifty, with a 

 long, broad snout, large flapping ears, low in the shoulders, 

 long in the back, flat-sided, long in the limbs, and large-boned, 

 with a thick hide covered with coarse bristles. They were 

 enormous feeders but slow fatteners ; consuming more food 

 than was repaid by their flesh.' But he observes that the 

 ' general system of crossing now pursued tends to the estab- 

 lishment of a uniform race throughout every country ; that is, a 

 race presenting the same outstanding characteristics." 



Another eminent and judicious writer, speaks as follows : — 



"A leading principle in breeding this animal, — and it applies 

 equally to the horse, the sheep, the ox and the dog, — is to 

 make a cautious selection of the male by whom the female is 



