48 



HAERIS ON THE PIG. 



possessed, in the greatest degree, the form and qualities 

 desired. By continued selection, and " weeding out," 

 the breed at length became established. 



The Improved Berkshire is one of the earliest and best 

 known of these Chinese-English breeds. 



The old Berkshire hog had maintained a high reputa- 

 tion for centuries. It is described as <c long and crooked 



Fig. 7. IMPORTED CHINESE SOW 



snouted, the muzzle turning upwards ; the ears large, 

 heavy, and inclined to be pendulous ; the body long and 

 thick, but not deep ; the legs short, the bone large, and 

 the size very great." It was probably the best pig in 

 England, and was wisely selected as the basis of those re- 

 markable improvements which have rendered the modern 

 Berkshire so justly celebrated. 



It would be interesting to trace the different steps in 

 this astonishing improvement, but, unfortunately, the nee- 



