14 A MANUAL ON THE HOG. 



" Varro states that the Gauls produced the largest and 

 finest swine's flesh that was brought into Italy ; and, 

 according to Strabo, in the reign of Augustus, they sup- 

 plied Rome, and nearly all Italy, with gammons, hog- 

 puddings, hams, and sausages. This nation, and the 

 Spaniards, appear to have kept immense droves of swine, 

 but scarcely any other kind of live stock ; and various 

 authors mention swine as forming a part of the live stock of 

 most Roman farms. "* 



The hog has always constituted an important factor in 

 the wealth of the Chinese, and his flesh their principal 

 source of animal food, and has been an object of especial 

 care and attention, It was from China and Italy that the 

 small breeds, with which the large, coarse varieties of 

 England have been improved, were derived. 



During the early periods of the history of England, the 

 principal property of large landowners consisted in herds 

 of swine, which were reared, principally, in the extensive 

 forests, and regularly attended by swineherds. 



The records of bequests and legacies show the estimate 

 placed upon these herds, as they are generally mentioned 

 in connection with the land. "Thus, Alfred, a nobleman, 

 bequeathed to his relatives a hide of land, with one hundred 

 swine, and directs that another hundred shall be given for 

 masses for the benefit of his soul ; and to his daughters he 

 leaves two thousand." "So, Elfhelm left land to St. 

 Peter's, at Westminster, on the express condition that they 

 should feed a herd of two hundred swine for the use of his 

 wife."t 



The hog is not a native of America, but was brought 

 over with the early settlers, and has constituted an impor- 

 tant element of wealth, especially in the United States, 

 since the permanent establishment of the colonies. We 



*Youatt and Martin, page 22. 

 | Youatt and Marlin, page 30. 



