94 A COUNTRY READER. 



small prick ears, short in the leg, broad and 

 deep in the belly, long and straight in the back, 

 and a tail well put on that curls stiffly round 

 and round. If you see a pig's tail, we'll and 

 stiffly curled, you may be quite sure that the 

 animal is in good health. If the tail is uncurled 

 and hangs limply down, it is a sign that there 

 is something wrong, that the animal is out of 

 health. 



The pure-bred Berkshire has his face a little 

 white near the tip, and his nose, feet, and tip of 

 tail white. 



The improved Berkshires will do well on the 

 most scanty fare. As the saying is, " they will 

 fatten where other pigs would starve." This of 

 course is very greatly in their favour. 



Moreover, the Berkshires, being medium-sized 

 pigs, having small bone, being long in the back, 

 deep in the belly, and standing close to the 

 ground, make the kind of meat that the present 

 market requires, namely, small joints, and pro- 

 duce " sides," that when cut up for bacon do 

 not show excessive fat, but with the lean and 

 fat reasonably mixed. 



A pig of average fatness, that weighs from 

 10 to 12 score, will fetch more money per score 

 than a much fatter pig weighing, say, 15 to 20 

 score. 



There is no farm animal that pays a small 



