THE SUSSEX noa.] A:sD TILElii VAiilOL'S liiiEEDS. [tue ebsex iioo. 



coloured, long-logged, ungainly-looking animal, ^ 

 with a narrow buck and a thick skin, covered 

 with close, coarse hair. The hcail was largo, 

 and the Ibrehead being ample, the oars were 

 necessarily placed far apart. It was an enor- 

 mous cater, and a very indiflercnt lattoncr. 

 The true Lincolnshire is now a very dillerent 

 animal from this, having a straight body, round 

 carcass, fine skin, and few bristles. It is gen- 

 erally white, and is easily fattened. At a year 

 and a-half old it will often weigli twenty-five 

 and even thirty stoues, giving 11 Iba. to the 

 stoue. 



THE SHROPSHIRE HOG. 

 The original breed of this county ha3 been 

 improved by a cross with the Berkshire, 

 Chinese, and other favourite breeds. The 

 former breed was not very well adapted for 

 farm stock ; but by brewers and distillers, who 

 have large quantities of refuse grains and 

 mash, they were held in some degree -of esti- 

 mation. 



THE CUMBERLAND HOG. 



Little has been done towards the improve- 

 ment of the large Cumberland breed; but the 

 small breed of this county has risen into con- 

 siderable favour. It is larger than the small 

 Yorkshire, and is the offspring of a cross 

 between the Cumberland and the Yorkshire; 

 the former giving quality and proportion, and 

 the latter affording size. The bacon of this 

 county has attained great celebrity in the 

 north of England. The breed is described as 

 being short in the legs, with a straight and broad 

 back, well-developed ribs, full neck and breast, 

 and cood hams. The snout is short ; the ears 

 clean, fine, and of moderate size ; whilst the 

 body is evenly covered with short, fine hair. 



THE SUSSEX HOG. 

 The bogs of this county are of moderate 

 size, well-formed, thin-skinned, and black and 

 white. The hair upon them is both long and 

 fine. They rarely feed over twenty stones ; but 

 they attain an early maturity, fatten quickly, 

 and produce excellent flesh. In this county 

 there was formerly a breed called the Eudgmik 

 swine, among which were some of the largest 

 hogs ever seen in England. Although they 

 yielded capital meat, they were considered 

 5f 



very unprofitable, from the time which they 

 took to fatten. They are now extinct. 



THE OIUCINAL OLO ENGLISH HOG. 

 The primitive breeds of England have now 

 almost lost all traces of their individuality, 

 from the diflferent systems of crossing to which 

 they have been subjected, by the spirit of im- 

 provement which has [)Ossessed many of tho 

 breeders of agricultural stock. It may be a 

 question, however, whether this has not been 

 alreadv carried too far. Mr. Low observes — 

 ""While we should improve the larger breeds 

 that are left us, by every means in our power, 

 we ought to take care that we do not sacrifice 

 them altogether. "We should remember that 

 an ample supply of pork is of immense im- 

 portance to the support of the inhabitants of 

 this country. England may, one day, have 

 cause to regret that this over-refinement has 

 been practised, and future improvers vainly 

 exert themselves to recover those fine old 

 races which the present breeders seem aiming 

 to efface." The original English breed had a 

 heavy head, a large ear, long legs, and rugged 

 coat, and had by far too much bone to be a 

 profitable animal. 



THE ESSEX HOG. 

 Essex, like other counties, has improved ita 

 breed of pigs, by crossing with the Berkshiro 

 and Neapolitan races. The original animal, 

 however, possessed some good points ; but as 

 improvement seemed necessary, a new breed 

 appeared, and now takes a high place among 

 the different species of Great Britain. The 

 present race has erect ears, a long, sharp head, 

 a short flat back, with small bone. The colour 

 almost invariably is white. It is a rapid feeder, 

 and makes fat so quickly, that before it has 

 obtained its due proportions it usually attains 

 an inconvenient state of obesity. So great, 

 indeed, are its fattening properties, that it 

 sometimes becomes the victim of them. 



" One of the finest specimens of the improved 

 Essex breed," says Mr. llichardson, " was 

 reared by C. L. Clare, Esq., of Hiudley House, 

 near Liverpool. She won eight first prizes, 

 ! two seconds, and one third ; and several of her 

 j litters have been sold for £120. The pecu- 

 liarities of Mr. Clare's improved breed, are 

 small hone, great aptitude to fatten, early 



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