500 THE PIG 



the eastern states to study the pure breeds of swine. The Chester 

 White impressed him most, so that he purchased a specimen and 

 began breeding. Mr. Silver endeavored to establish a uniform 

 type of large size, with superior quality, such as most nearly 

 approached his ideal. From his breeding is descended what is 

 known as the Ohio Improved Chester White (O. I. C.) strain, and 

 all animals known now as O. I. C. W. must trace back to his 

 herd to be eligible for registration in the herdbook promoting 

 this family. 



Characteristics of the Chester White As its name implies, this 

 breed is pure white in color of hair, although small black or 

 bluish-black spots occur on the skin to a more or less extent. 

 Such spots do not disqualify, but are not desirable in fixing breed 

 character. The head has a straight face, the nose often tends to 

 be long and narrow, and the ears are drooped forward, breaking 

 over one third to one half the length. Thick, heavy ears are 

 not uncommon. The body carries a back line of good width 

 with a tendency to be somewhat arched, though not undesirably 

 so. The depth of body is usually excellent and the shoulders 

 show smooth and strong, but the hams may be improved in the 

 lower thigh. The legs may be short, but they are rarely sup- 

 ported on the toes with strength, the Chester White being char- 

 acteristically weak of pastern, the toes being too much spread 

 and bent and the dewclaws too low down. This weakness is due 

 no doubt to the early-maturing, rapid-fattening quality of the 

 breed, the weight being too great for the feet to properly sus- 

 tain. This calls for more strong bone in the make-up of the 

 Chester White. The quality of hair is about medium, with a 

 tendency to coarseness, while curly hair is not uncommon. The 

 modern specimen of the breed shows a finer hair than did the 

 older type. A tendency on the part of this as well as other white 

 breeds is to sun scald and scurfiness of skin, especially in the 

 West, when exposed to a hot sun and dry weather. In tempera- 

 ment the Chester White is excellent, being quiet and well suited 

 to feeding. 



The size of the Chester White places this breed in a high rank. 

 Formerly it was the largest breed in the country, and specimens 

 were exhibited weighing over iooo pounds. The tendency of 



