CHAP. l. TAMWORTH PIGS. 533 



counties for the breeding of cross-bred pigs which are fattened before 

 they reach eight months of age, and are sold to the bacon-curers, who 

 report very favourably of them. The boar used is generally a long 

 compact Large White when bacon pigs are sought, and a Middle White 

 boar if the London porker trade is in view. The chief points which the 

 breeders of Large Blacks are now particularly attempting to alter are 

 the slight tendency to coarseness of bone, shortness of back, and the bad 

 shape of the hind-quarters and the hams. 



The TAMWORTH breed of pigs has been fortunate in obtaining several 

 doughty champions during the last few years, and its praises have been 

 sung both at home and abroad. The breeders of the red-skinned and 

 long-nosed Tamworth (fig. 138) may fairly claim for it antiquity, as we 

 believe it is one of the. oldest of our breeds of pigs. It is known to have 



Photo by W. E. Bird. 



Fig. 138. Tamworth Boar, " Director of Whitacre." 



First at the Bath and West and Royal Counties Shows, 1907. 



The property of Mr. IX W. Philip, Whitacre, Birmingham. 



been very common in some of the midland counties at the beginning of 

 the present century, although its colour was then of a deeper red, almost 

 approaching to a grisly black, especially as the pigs attained maturity. 

 An attempt is being made to eliminate the dark spots on the skin, and 

 also to breed the Tamworth of a much lighter colour. By selection and 

 a judicious cross an improvement will doubtless be secured, whilst the 

 objectionable long snout will be shortened and early maturity encouraged. 

 Although the Small White pig has ceased to find a place in the prize 

 schedule of the Royal and other Societies, the number of breeds of 

 white pigs is still three, since the admirers of the so-called Lincolnshire 

 White Curly-Coated pigs have formed a Society to look after its interests. 

 The farmers in Lincolnshire have taken Tip the matter in their usual 

 whole-hearted manner, as though they were determined to give this 



