52 



The Large Black Pig 



[Apr., 



objections raised and of the discussion in the Press was the 

 rehabilitation in public favour of the long-backed lean-fleshed 

 large black which furnished long sides of lean bacon but was 

 not so well suited for the fresh pork trade. A happy idea was 

 acted upon by sorae Eastern Counties' pig breeders who pro- 

 ceeded into Cornwall for the purpose of inspecting the Cornish 

 type of large black pig. It resulted in the purchase of a num- 

 ber of the thick compact and heavy-fleshed pigs which when 

 crossed with the boars of the Eastern Counties large black 

 produced a far more suitable pig for bacon curers than could 

 possibly be bred from a pure South-Western or Eastern Coun- 

 ties bred pig. The interchange of breeding pigs between the 

 two distant districts resulted in the evolution of a black which 

 can fairly claim to be the equal of any breed of pig for the 

 production of large litters of quick-growing and early-maturing 

 pigs. There is much to be said in favour of the claim that no • 

 breed of sow when crossed with a suitable w^hite boar is 

 superior, if equal, to a Large Black sow in the production of 

 pigs for the highest price bacon. 



The Large Black pig has extended to all parts of England 

 and Wales and has actually invaded Scotland, where until quite 

 recent years the breeding of pigs was by no means general or 

 popular. Many Large Black pigs Dre also found in Ireland 

 where the sows are very successful in producing pigs for the 

 Itacon factories when crossed with the thick type of Large 

 White or Large White Ulster boars . It is also claimed that 

 no breed of imported can withstand the climate of South 

 Africa so well as the Large Black. For some reason, not 

 explained, pigs of nearly all other pure breeds degenerate 

 quickly in South Africa, where the dairying and bacon 

 industries are fast becoming very important, so that it is 

 possible that the export trade in Large Black pigs to tropical 

 or semi-tropical countries is likely to become of considerable 

 extent. No further proof of the great popularity of the Large 

 Black pig in the British Isles i?^ required than the fact that 

 the members of the Society number about 1,700. 

 The revised scale of points is as follows : — 



Head. — Medium length and wide between the ears ... 5 

 ^^Ys. — Long, thin, inclined well over the face, with 



nose of medium length ... ... ••• 4 



Jowl. — Medium size ^ 



Neck. — Fairly long and muscular 3 



Clvi^t. — Wide and deep ^ 



