CHAPTER XVII. 



THREE MINOR BREEDS. 



Theee breeds of minor importance in America are the 

 Mule-foot hog, Large Black Pig, and the Middle White or 

 Middle Yorkshire. 



MULE-FOOT HOG. 



Description. — A marked peculiarity of the Mule-foot hog 

 is its solid hoof, and from this peculiar feature the breed takes 

 its name. In general conformation, it is claimed that the 

 Mule-foot hog is between the fat type and the bacon type, but 

 it is not noted for great length of side. 



The color is black, but white points are admissible. More 

 white than black is a disqualification, and any considerable 

 amount of white is regarded as objectionable. 



Origin and History. — The ISTational Mule-foot Hog Record 

 Association, which has its office in Indianapolis, has issued 

 the following statement : " Up to the present date, the Mule- 

 foot hog is a hog without an authentic history. Rumors and 

 reports offer Denmark, Holland, South Africa, Mexico, South 

 America, and the Sandwich Islands as the country of his 

 birth. . . . Reports are so contradictory that this Association 

 cannot, without further research, endorse any of them. Every 

 effort will be made by the Association to discover the origin of 

 the Mule-foot hog, and to furnish its friends with a true and 

 complete history." 



Distribution. — So far, animals of this breed are not numer- 

 ous nor widely distributed. Indiana, Missouri, Arkansas, 

 Texas, and Louisiana are probably the principal states for the 



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