THE PIG 



203 



is not driven but carried from place to place England, or have been built up from the old 

 in a kind of cradle, or basket hung on a pole English stock. Foreign and native breeds 

 between two men ; and as swine are often ob- entered into the formation of noted ILnglish 

 stinate when about to enter these cradles, "the breeds of hogs, but the improvement has l)ecn 

 heathen Chinee," it is said, sometimes adopts a effected there by careful, painstaking breeders, 

 peculiar mode of loading. This is accomphshed Of present English breeds the Yorkshire, ku'ge 

 by placing the pig in front of the pen, when the and small, has many admirers and is gain- 

 owner vigorously pulls at the pig's tail and in ing constantly in favor. The large breed was 

 the spirit of opposition the animal darts into improved by an introduction of blood of the 

 the desired place. At the end of the journey white Leicester, an old slab-sided but large 

 he is driven out by spitting in his face. native hog ; and further improved by the 



Turkey, Syria, Persia, and Arabia ha\'e introduction of blood of the im]jro\erl while 



each different varieties of pigs, iron-gray, black, hogs at "Castle Howaid." The im]jro\'ed 



or brown in color, the bodies small and round Essex is at present a popular breed both in 



in shape and of no great size. They are not England and America. It is the product of a 

 raised in any great numbers, however, 



because of the nature of the soil and of /^-'"~*~' ' ^ram '"■-^^ ' * "* -^^/^i 

 the prevalence of the Mohammedan reli- 

 gion, which forbids the use of swine flesh. 



Swine are scarce in Africa and of little 

 value except in the northern part, where 

 there is bred a reddish hog of good size 

 and of rather square form. This breed, 

 known as "Guinea," has been imported 

 into Brazil and into other countries. 



The Malta pig is black and of small 

 stature; the skin is smooth, the hair fine 

 and almost wanting. The quality of the 



flesh is good and of delicate taste. Spain has cross between the old Essex and the Neajjoli- 



but few varieties, and these are somewhat tan, which was commenced by Lord Western 



similar to the Chinese, from which stock they in 1S39. 

 have probably sprung. Italy is noted for her 



pigs. The Maltese and Neapolitan are both ^^^- '^"'^ P^^' ^^ America 



of rather small size, but are of good quality It naturally follows, since the hog is not a 



and flavor. These breeds are small and nearly native of this continent, that the ancestors of 



destitute of hair; they are easily fattened, and our many families and breeds must ha\'e been 



because of their cjuality they have been sought imported. They found here a land of corn and 



in other countries, where they are used in the clo\'er, two foods which the hog likes and which 



creation of other breeds. when fed to him produce quick and profitable 



The hog stock of France and Germany is returns, 



much inferior to our own or the English breeds. The first pigs that influenced the earlier 



the common stock being long-legged, gaunt, inferior stock in way of impro\-ement were a 



coarse, and uncouth, resembling the wild boar pair sent by the Duke of Bedford to General 



in form, but lacking the flavor and quality of Washington. This pair was never delivered, 



the latter. Improved varieties, however, are however, but kept by the English farmer who 



found in both countries. brought them over, who leased a farm and be- 



England ranks first in the improvement of gan the breeding of these choice animals. De- 

 swine. Our best breeds have come from scendants of this pair were used largel)' in the 



Pigs at Hosm 



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