1922.] 



The Large Black Pig. 



51 



and also in the 8outh-\\\\st of England loiij^ before the first 

 pig society was formed. The black pig of the Kastern Coun- 

 ties was a long ])ig S'.]iiaie in tlie (piarters, with li.^lit fore end, 

 rather flat libs, fine in the hair, skin and bono, and somewhat 

 long in the face and on the leg. The sows were prolific, and 

 very good milkers; the young pigs w^ere hardy and quiclv 

 growers. These pigs were eminently suited to the outdoor lil^- 

 they led as most of t!ie sow^s and the store pigs had the run of 

 the pastures near the homestead during the \vinter and in many 

 instances were folded or ran loose over the temporary grasses, 

 mainly clovers sown on the arable lands, alternately with peas 

 or beans each four years. A considerable number of these 

 black pigs were also fattened on " seeds," the additional food 

 usually being the beans or peas grown on the farm. This feeding 

 off the clovers and annual gi'asses with pigs was considered to 

 . be a splendid preparation for the following wheat crop. 



The large black pig common in the south-western comi- 

 ties was of a somewhat different character, being shorter 

 in the head, body and legs, heavder in the jowl and shoulder 

 and not so square in the hind (piarters nor so good in the hams. 

 The variation in substance and the amount of fat carried might 

 have been due in part to the climate and to the varying food 

 requirements of the miner with his very severe toil and the 

 less arduous employment of the Eastern Counties' residents. 

 The Cornish large black shared with the Essex type those very 

 valuable cliaracteristics, prolificacy, free milking, hardihood 

 and quick growth when young. 



The south-western large black pig was not generally known 

 beyond its borders until the bacon factory was built at Redruth. 

 For some time nearly the whole of the fat pigs killed thereat 

 were of the large black type common within the district. 

 Although the factor}' was well e(juipped and managed on scien- 

 tific principles the bacon failed to command tlie best prices on 

 the markers beyond the district. The sides of bacon wei*e 

 declared to be too heavv in the fore-end, too short and with 

 hams of a shape not suitable for the best markets. Some of 

 the bacon w-as also said to be too fat and the bone too heavy. 

 "Roars of another colour were introduced but the local prejudice 

 in favour of the black colour was gi'(\at. 



A few years earlier, consumei's of pork and manufacturers of 

 bacon had become dissatisfied with the short, thick and compact 

 pig with an excessive j)roportion of fat wliii-b 1i;ul become 

 general in the Eastern Count i(^s. One of the results of the 



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