76 DISEASES OF SWINE 



became finer, the legs were shortened, the new breed consumed less 

 food, and showed a better fat return; the color was changed to an 

 all black. This new breed was for years classed as the Essex- 

 Neapolitan. There was also probably some Suffolk and Berkshire 

 blood intermingled in these early crosses. Lord Western made the 

 mistake, however, of too close inbreeding, and, as a result, the 

 breed was weakened in constitution, reduced too greatly in size, 

 and decreased in breeding properties. 



On one of Lord Western's English estates he had a tenant by 

 the name of Fisher Hobbs. It is largely due to the breeding of 

 this gentleman that the Essex type of to-day was established. 



Fig. 37. — An attractive Essex gilt. (From Coburn's "Swine in America," 

 Orange Judd Company, publishers.) 



About 1840, or a little before, he secured an Essex-Neapolita.n boar 

 from Lord Western, and crossed this breed with some of the rough 

 and hardy native Essex stock. This restored in part the hardiness 

 and desirable qualities of the breed. On the death of his squire, in 

 1844, Mr. Hobbs purchased the pick of his herd, and added them 

 to his own. This formed the basis for the development of the new 

 breed. This breeder won many prizes at shows in England in the 

 early 40's, and this gave marked prominence to the breed. In the 

 adjoining county of Suffolk the Improved Essex type, as represented 

 by the herd of Mr. Hobbs, became very popular, and this county 

 is to-day the most pronounced breeding locality of the Essex. 

 On account of its predominance in Suffolk rather than in Essex 



