DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREEDS 99 



Large Yorkshire and Suffolk hogs on the native white 

 stock of the country. Between 1850 and 1865 Mr. Clark 

 was the leading breeder. Following this time other breed- 

 ers took it up and the type was slightly changed, but 

 later, about 1884, the various breeders got together, per- 

 fected an organization, and adopted a standard. This 

 breed is bred today primarily in York State. 



ESSEX SWINE. 



This is another English breed originating in Essex 

 County, England. The foundation stock was the old 

 Essexshire hog, which was probably developed, as pre- 

 viously outlined, in one of the isolated local communities. 

 It was a large hog, rather gaunt and slab-sided in form, 

 with a short head; coarse in quality, restless in disposi- 

 tion, and varying in color, being principally black with 

 white snout, white legs and shoulders; somewhat com- 

 parable to the color of the Hampshire. The early de- 

 velopment of the Essexshire was under the direction of 

 Lord Western about 1830. Neapolitan hogs were im- 

 ported from southern Europe and crossed upon the 

 old Essex hog, but this line of breeding was unsuc- 

 cessful on account of inbreeding being practiced. Fol- 

 lowing this the Essex was crossed on the native stock 

 such as Sussex and Berkshire swine. The Neapolitan 

 cross, however, did one noted thing for the breed. It en- 

 tirely obliterated the white of the old Essex hog and left 

 a hog with a black color similar to the Neapolitan. 



Following the work of Lord Western came Fisher 

 Hobbs. He continued to improve the herd of Lord West- 

 ern, which finally resulted in the modern improved Essex. 

 The improvement at this time was effected entirely by se- 

 lection, proper breeding, care and feed, and the breed 



