90 HARRIS ON THE PIG. 



would be a safe cross, both being derived from Neapoli- 

 tans. 



" But Dorset, as a county, is so far from being celebrated 

 for pigs, that one of the greatest dairy farmers, who feeds 

 whole herds, writes me ' All I know is, that our breed 

 of pigs is very bad.' 



" They are, for the most part, black and white, of a Berk- 

 shire character. The ancient Dorset pig is said to have 

 been blue, perhaps the original of the blue boar. One 

 well-known parish in Dorset is called l Toller Porcorum.' " 



Mr. Sidney certainly deserves credit for the boldness 

 with which he endeavors to classify the different breeds 

 of English pigs. It is not an easy or an agreeable task. 



It would seem from the facts given above that the 

 White Breeds are decidedly of a mixed origin. The 

 Yorkshire breeders furnish pedigrees, but if we may judge 

 from the specimen given on page 67, these pedigrees, when 

 analyzed, show conclusively that the breeders who have 

 been most celebrated as prize-winners, have found it de- 

 sirable to resort to an occasional cross. They have aimed 

 to produce a pig that will grow rapidly, and fat at an 

 early age. In other words, they have aimed, as breeders, 

 to produce what we want as feeders. This is, we think, a 

 mistake. The object of the breeder should be to pro- 

 duce a pig which, when crossed with common sows, will 

 produce the best pigs for fattening. 



Agricultural Societies will not allow a grade Shorthorn, 

 or a grade Hereford, or a grade Devon, or a grade Ayr- 

 shire to compete with a thorough-bred. But both in 

 England and America, pigs are shown without reference to 

 pedigree ; and as long as this is the case, the breeders of 

 thorough-bred pigs receive injury rather than benefit from 

 these exhibitions. None but thorough-breds should be 

 allowed to compete with thorough-breds. The importance 

 of " pedigree " is admitted, but the societies do not insist 



