BOOK THE FIFTH. 



ON THE BREEDING, REARING, AND FATTENING OF SWINE. 



CHAPTER I. 



AN INTRODUCTORY AND COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE 

 DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SWINE. 



IN but few matters connected with stock-breeding has there been a 

 greater change than in the " points " required in a good hog. 

 Some forty or fifty years since " a small muzzle, a narrow forehead and 

 large cheeks" formed the ideal head of a pig. Now, exactly the 

 reverse is required, a broad forehead and small cheeks being necessities 

 in a good hog. In years gone by, fineness of bone, delicacy of skin, 

 sparcity of hair, and neatness of form were indispensable in the 

 improved pig. At the present time, the introduction of the new style 

 of curing, and the resultant large increase in the consumption of hams 

 and bacon, together with the demand for lean in lieu of fat meat, have 

 caused pig-breeders and feeders to seek for pigs of quick growth, of 

 early maturity, and carrying a large proportion of lean meat on lengthy. 

 deep frames, well covered with straight silky hair. The complete 

 change in the style of pig generally required in all parts of the country 

 has led to a diminished inquiry for most of the smaller and fatter 

 varieties of pigs on the part of farmers and others who breed pigs 

 mainly for profit. Nevertheless, we still find, on the home farms of 

 some of our landed proprietors, small herds of the once fashionable, 

 neat and compact pig, which retains many of the points of the Chinese 

 and Neapolitan pigs imported into this country well nigh a century 

 since. 



The offering of prizes for pigs at our agricultural shows has resulted 

 in the different important varieties of swine being bred more closely to 

 those points which are looked upon as the peculiarities of each distinct 

 breed. At various times during the last forty years, certain local 

 varieties have, by the extent to which they were bred, or by the 

 influence of some one or more persons interested, received recogni- 

 tion as a pure breed, and separate classes have been provided for them 



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