CHAPTER LXXIII 



THE SMALL YORKSHIRE 



The origin of the Small Yorkshire pig, known as the " Small 

 White " in England, is obscure. It has been assumed that it 

 came from Chinese stock, though different to-day from the early 

 Chinese type. Charles Mason of Chilton and Robert Colling of 

 Darlington, Yorkshire, both Shorthorn cattle breeders, are the 

 earliest known persons to have bred Small Yorkshires, then 

 termed Chinese. They owned herds as early as 1818, but noth- 

 ing is known of the parent stock. Following this period the 

 breed met with some extensive distribution in England by 

 Shorthorn breeders. 



Some strains or families of Small Whites early developed in 

 England. A local breed, known as the Solway in Cumberland, 

 assisted in the improvement of the Small Yorkshire, although 

 this was descended from the Mason-Colling breeding of Small 

 Whites. The Solway also played a part in improving the Large 

 Yorkshire as bred by Mr. Wainman of Carhead. There existed 

 some twenty-five or so years ago, a small white pig known as the 

 Suffolk, which was essentially absorbed by the Small Yorkshire. 

 In Cumberland was another type, some larger than the Small 

 Yorkshire, but of the same general character, the blood of the 

 two being freely mixed. Still another branch, descended from 

 Mason-Colling stock, was known as the Windsor breed. A more 

 modem and very popular strain was developed by Lord Ducie, 

 which really resulted from a judicious blending of Cumberland 

 and Small Yorkshire blood. 



The introduction of the Small Yorkshire pig to America under 

 that name occurred many years ago. In 1888 Curtis wrote that 

 it was first brought to this country about i860, but did not 

 attract much atiention. Colonel Richard M. Hoe of New York 

 and William K. Cole of New Jersey made importations in 1872, 



525 



