LARGE VS. SMALL BREEDS AND CROSSES. 25 



2d. " Small Breed ; which, when full grown and fatten- 

 ed, will not weigh over 450 Ibs. dressed." 



Exhibitors seem to have entered their pigs in the class 

 for small breeds one year, and in that for large the next. 

 Berkshire, Essex, Suffolk and Yorkshire have all been ex- 

 hibited, first in one class and then in another, and fre- 

 quently the same breeder will exhibit Berkshire or Essex 

 at the same fair in both classes. 



The, same state of facts seems to exist in England. 

 There are Large Yorkshires and Small Yorkshires, Large 

 Berkshires and Small Berkshires. Of late years, a 

 new class of " Medium " Breeds has been formed at the 

 Agricultural Shows. There, as here, it is not always easy 

 to determine the class to which a particular breed belongs. 

 An English breeder of " Small Yorks," says he can " get 

 them up profitably to 600 Ibs. when thick bacon is required." 



On the other hand, the advocates of the Large York- 

 shires claim that pigs of this breed " attain a good bacon 

 size at a very early age, and when killed, they cut more 

 lean meat in proportion to the fat than the smaller breeds." 



A sow of this breed, which took the Prize at Rother- 

 ham, in 1856, age three years and two months, weighed 

 1,315 Ibs.* 



The author above quoted, says : " The large breed is 

 equally valuable for making large or small bacon, that be- 

 ing only a matter of age ; as porkers of a few weeks old, 

 they are un equaled ; their flesh being very rich and well- 

 flavored, and not so fat as the small breeds." 



On the other hand, Mr. George Mangles, of Givendale, 

 Ripon, one of the largest and most successful breeders 

 and feeders in Yorkshire, furnishes the London Farmers' 

 Magazine, for June, 1861, the following interesting ac- 

 count of his experience : 



" About ten years ago, I commenced pig-keeping on a 



* Youatt on the Pig. By S. Sidney. London : ISfljO. Page 14. 

 2 



