THE MODERN ENGLISH BREEDS OF PIGS. 85 



IMPROVED OXFORDSHIRE. 



" These black pigs," says Mr. Sidney, " although they 

 are scarcely numerous enough to enable them to claim 

 tlie title of a breed, are interesting, because representing 

 a successful attempt to unite the best qualities of the 

 Berkshire and improved Essex. The old Oxfordshire 

 breed were very like the old Berkshire. The first great 

 improvement is traced to two Neapolitan boars imported 

 by the late Duke of Marlborough when Marquis of Bland- 

 ford, and presented by him to Mr. Druce, senior, of Eyns- 

 ham, and the late Mr. Smallbones, in 1837. These Nea- 

 politans were used with Berkshire sows, some of which 

 were the result of Chinese crosses. Two families of jet- 

 black pigs were formed by Mr. Smallbones and Mr. Druce. 

 On the death of Mr. Smallbones, Mr. Samuel Druce, jun., 

 purchased the best of his stock, and had from his father, 

 and also from Mr. Fisher Hobbs, improved Essex boars. 

 The produce were a decided ' hit,' and very successful at 

 local, Royal, and Smithfield Club shows. The improved 

 Oxfords are of fair size, and all black, with a fair quantity 

 of hair, very prolific, and good mothers and sticklers. 



" Mr. Samuel Druce writes me : ' I have recently used 

 one of Mr. Crisp's black Suffolk boars. In fact, wherever 

 opportunity offers, I obtain good fresh blood of a suitable 

 black breed, with the view of obtaining more lean moat 

 than the Essex, better feeding qualities than the pure 

 Berkshires, and plenty of constitution. I have never been 

 troubled with any diseases among my pigs. Without 

 change of boars of a different tribe, if of the same breed, 

 constitution cannot be preserved. Where breeding in- 

 and-in from a limited stock is persisted in, constitution is 

 lost, the produce of each sow becomes small in size and 

 few in number.' The Oxford dairy farms have a first-rate 

 market for pork in the University. Porkers at thirteen 

 to sixteen weeks are wanted to weigh 60 Ibs. to 90 Ibs. ; 



