208 
Pigs : their Breeding and Management. 
farms, he was fond of sending to market what are locally termed 
" porkers " : as much as seven guineas each was frequently 
realised for pigs of the Large White breed at six to seven months 
old, and as they were sold to the butcher by public auction at 
the cattle-market, these were not fancy prices. I recently said 
to my present manager that I thought a recurrence to the prac- 
tice would pay better than selling the whole of our young pigs, 
as we do now, for stock purposes. I am satisfied that without a 
large foreign connection the breeding of pigs for stock purposes 
does not pay, especially in these times of depression when home 
buyers grudge an extra guinea or two for a well-bred animal. 
Upon the general characteristics of the two principal breeds, 
viz. the Berkshire and the Large White (Yorkshire), I would 
observe, first, with regard to the Berkshires, this has been the 
favourite breed in the dairy districts of Berks, Oxfordshire, 
Buckinghamshire, and Wilts, and the breed is widely scattered 
in other counties ; although Berkshires do not grow so rapidly 
or fatten so quickly as the Large White breed, they possess a 
strong constitution, and the quality of the hams and bacon is 
estimated as first class. Until recently it was held that Berk- 
shires had a larger proportion of lean to the fat than any other 
breed ; but some of the largest bacon-curers in Wiltshire, Ire- 
land, and the Continent, have assured me that this notion is 
exploded — that the flesh of the modern Berkshire (not the ori- 
ginal) contains too large a proportion of fat for bacon, and that 
some of the Larger White breeds yield a much larger proportion 
of streaky lean flesh. The desire to obtain earlier maturity by 
crossing the original long-snouted Berkshires with other short- 
snouted breeds, possessing greater aptitude to fatten, has pro- 
bably brought about the change alluded to. 
With time given, Berkshires attain to great weight ; when 
carefully bred they possess hardy constitutions, and are prolific 
breeders. The average weight they attain at 12 months old 
is 12 to 14 scores, or say 300 lbs. In addition to perfect form, 
a pure Berkshire should have a coat of thick, long, silky hair, 
four white feet, some white on the forehead and face ; a white 
tip to the tail, and a little white on the ears is esteemed. 
With regard to the Large White pigs, I would observe that these 
must not be confounded with the coarse mammoth specimens of 
the genus Sus, formerly seen in our showyards and now found 
upon some farms in the North of England ; I refer to the mode- 
rately large sort. This variety has the following recommenda- 
tions : they possess hardy strong constitutions, are good breeders 
and mothers ; the hogs grow fast, and attain great weight at an 
early age. I have bred many which at 10 months old have weighed 
over 15 score. At the Smithfield Show I have realised, from 
