THE LARGE BLACK 



763 



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thick, the legs a bit long and inclined to heavy bone. Originally 

 these hogs were coarse and large of frame, but in recent years 

 the quality has greatly improved. The color is solid black. 



The size of the Large Black pig places it in the class indicated 

 by its name among British breeds. The standard of the Large 

 Black Pig Society gives no weights. Large Blacks seen by the 

 author in England, in very good condition, at maturity approxi- 

 mated 500 pounds for females, with somewhat heavier weights 



for boars. In the 



New Zealand Farmer 

 an article on the breed 

 refers to a farmer 

 having pigs at three 

 and one-half months 

 weighing 1 10 pounds. 



The Large Black 

 pig as a feeder has 

 very good rank and 

 makes excellent use 

 of its food. It is said 

 that these pigs "pork 

 at any age," which 

 means they are good 

 feeders. 



The Large Black 

 pig as a grazer is 

 regarded with special 



favor in England, although the British farmer knows little of 

 grazing swine, as understood by his American cousin. However, 

 Walker states that they are great grazers, and that he has seen them 

 roaming about the fields and orchards of Devon and Cornwall, 

 where " they appear to have things their own way." 



The quality of meat of the Large Black pig is very good, but 

 comparisons seem to favor the Berkshire and large Yorkshire. 

 Years ago, it is agreed by English breeders, the carcass was large 

 and coarse and not of the best class, but " the great weight has 

 given way to greater quality," writes Ernest Prentice,i "and the 

 1 Pamphlet of th©]^£^^SfecBSo^"^'y- London, 191 !■ 



Fig. 353. A Large Black boar, a winner at the 



1904 show of the Royal Agricultural Society of 



England. From photograph, by courtesy of William 



Cooper & Nephews, Berkhamsted, England 



