THE MODEHN ENGLISH BREEDS OF PIGS. 95 



sell them weighing from 240 Ibs. to 300 Ibs. These are 

 considered, in Cheshire, the best selling weights for bacon. 

 I observe that the farmer who uses most Welsh pigs keeps 

 them twelve months, and sells them at 300 Ibs., which will 

 scarcely pay for four months more keep than the York- 

 shire, Manchester, and Shropshire sold after eight months. 



" An immense improvement has taken place in Cheshire 

 pigs within the last thirty years, in quality and weight. 

 They are made fat at least six months sooner than thirty 

 years ago. 



" One farmer says few or no Irish pigs are brought into 

 Cheshire; another, a good many, but not so many as 

 formerly. The great importation is of Shropshire and 

 Welsh. Yet a county member, who ought to be an au- 

 thority, writes me that * Shropshire cannot boast of a 

 county pig.' 



" As a general rule, dark pigs would seem to be in favor 

 on English dairy farms. 



" The MIDDLESEX is a name which has become known 

 from winning prizes at the Smithfield Club, in 1841, 1848, 

 1850, 1851, 1854, 1856. It is not a county pig, but of the 

 same class as the Windsor. Mr. Barber, of Slough, 

 Buckinghamshire, is the principal breeder and exhibitor 

 of Middlesex. Captain Gunter used to show it before he 

 settled permanently in Yorkshire. 



" The NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BREED, whatever that may be, 

 has won one prize in Baker-street, and the Warwickshire 

 crossed with Neapolitan two, many years ago. 



FANCY BREEDS. 



" By fancy breeds, I mean pigs named after a person or 

 a place. The prizes awarded to pigs at the Smithfield 

 Club Shows are a very good evidence that the breed, if a 



