LUICESTER HOG.] 



PIGS, 



[koefolk hog, etc. 



existence, until he saw it notified over one of 

 tlie pens of the late Prince Albert, about ten 

 years ago, at the Smithfield Show. 



THE LEICESTERSHIRE HOG. 



The original hog of Leicestershire was a 

 large, deep, flat-seated, light-spotted animal, 

 possessed of rather a handsome head, with 

 well-formed ears. Mr. Bakewell, however, by 

 skilful crossing, not only improved the breeds 

 of sheep and cattle, but also those of pigs. 

 Accordingly, his Dishley pigs evinced con- 

 summate skill, as did his Leicester sheep. 

 " With symmetrical form," says Mr. Richard- 

 son, "as far as rotundity, depth, and thickness 

 could constitute it, he combined such great 

 aptitude to fatten, that it has, with the Chinese 

 and Neapolitan, been the source of almost all 

 the in/provements of our breeds of pigs ; and a 

 pig is just good ' blood' or bad in proportion 

 as it is allied nearly or remotely to the Dishley 

 breed. There was a little tenderness of con- 

 stitution, but so much flesh and fat in pro- 

 portion to time and oflal, that it looked more 

 like one great cylinder of flesh than a living 

 animal — the feet, neck, and face being lost in 

 the exuberance of fat. Owing to its lethargic 

 disposition, and thoracic temperament, it is not 

 a vigorous breeder, and much less prolific 

 than many other kinds ; neither will it grow 

 so rapidly as some varieties, being more cal- 

 culated to lay on fat than to make bone and 

 muscle. Still it is a physiological wonder — a 

 triumph of skill." The Leicesters have been 

 crossed into middle, or small Yorkshires, and 

 have been the grand improvers of the large 

 York breed. Mr. J. V. Williams, of Hay- 

 grove, Bridgewater, Somerset, in 1S54, ex- 

 hibited a pair of white Leicesters, and received 

 the gold medal of the Smithfield Club. Writing 

 to Mr. Sydney, he says—" I first exhibited in 

 1852, and have since won, besides the Smith- 

 Held Club gold medal, two gold medals of the 

 Paris Universal Exhibition in 1855, five silver 

 medals and cross, and upwards of one hundred 

 prizes." Ilia fat pigs usually average the 

 following weights : — 



5 to G months old, from 7 

 ^ )» »> ., ,,10 



10 ,. » „ „ 12 



12 „ 18 „ „ „ l-i 



The three pigs exhibited in 1S5-1., at eighteen 

 7G8 



to 9 score lbs. 

 12 



" l-^ » „ 

 „ IS ., .. 



weeks' old, weighed, sinking the offal, nine 

 score each. 



THE HEREFORDSHIRE HOG. 



Of this animal there is little to say ; but it 

 is commonly believed to be the result of a 

 cross with the Shropshire. Mr. Eichardson 

 says it is little inferior to the Berkshire breed ; 

 and that it is to the adoption of crosses from 

 the boars of Herefordshire and Berkshire, that 

 we are to attribute the major part of the im- 

 provement which has, of late years, appeared 

 among the Irish breeds. To the present white 

 breed of this county no attention has been 

 paid, although the sow is acknowledged to be a 

 useful animal. 



THE NORFOLK HOG. 

 The Norfolk breed is small, with pricked, 

 erect ears ; and variously coloured, but gene- 

 rally white. They are well-formed, fatten 

 quickly, and produce good meat. Those that 

 are white are said to be the best; but in the 

 vicinity of Lynn, and generally on the Lin- 

 coln side of the county, there is a larger 

 spotted variety, of good form and quality. 

 AYe believe, however, that little or no attention 

 has been paid to this variety. 



THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE HOG. 



The hog of Gloucester is less in size than 

 the Hampshire breed ; still it is of suflicient 

 proportions to be ranked among the larger 

 breeds. It is round in form, somewhat short 

 for its depth in the belly, and altogether pre- 

 senting a very compact appearance. It is 

 generally white, and has — what may be either 

 an ornament or a disfiguration — wattles hanging 

 from each jaw. Its constitution is hardy ; the 

 sows are prolific, and the pigs are very profit- 

 able, more particularly for pork. As store 

 pigs they are excellent. 



THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE HOG. 



This animal is considered handsome, being 

 very compactly formed, steep-sided, and having 

 little bone. It feeds well, attains early to 

 maturity, and fattens rapidly. Por storing or 

 pork it is excellent. It is of a light colour. 



THE LINCOLNSHIRE HOG. 



The old Lincolnshire breed was a \vA\t- 



