weight of 400 lbs. He considers them far superior to, and more profitable than the larger breeds.
Other breeders have crossed with the Chinese and Neapolitan breeds, and with some considerable success the extremes of the large and small kinds happily correcting each other. The Berkshire pigs have also been employed as a cross, and hardy, profitable, well-proportioned animals obtained. The original breed, in its purity, size, and defectiveness, is now hardly to be met with, having shared the fate of the other large old breeds, and given place to smaller and more symmetrical animals. Mr. Smith, of Hoyland Hall, Sheffield, whose kind replies to our queries we have to acknowledge, is another great pig-breeder, and his swine have carried off numerous prizes; they appear to be descended from a cross between a Yorkshire and Lord Western's improved Essex pigs. Their chief characteristics are: smallness of bone, great development of the fleshy parts, symmetry of form, and a strong propensity to fatten. Although hearty feeders, a small quantity of food suffices for them. When matured they readily attain the weight of from 400 to 500 lbs.
LINCOLNSHIRE.
The true Lincolnshire pigs are white, with long, straight bodies, round carcasses, fine skins, and few bristles; the heads are well formed and of moderate size, and the ears erect, pointing somewhat forward, and curling slightly at the tips; the hair is long and fine, but scanty. This breed was formerly considered as superior to any but the Berkshire in point of form and value, they being easily fattened, and the flesh being tender, and of a fine flavor; with care they will reach 600 to 700 lbs.; and many, at a year and a-half old, will weigh 350 to 400 lbs. They certainly do not attain to their maturity as early as some of the smaller breeds, but are, notwithstanding this, profitable animals, and good, sound, handsome stock. A cross between the Lincoln and Chinese pig is productive of an animal presenting great tendency to fatten, and a small eater.
The old breed of this county are long-legged, narrow-backed, ungainly animals, with thick skins, covered with short, thick hair; the head is large, the forehead wide, and the ears set far apart. They are far from profitable animals, being enormous eaters, and fattening but poorly; few attain a greater weight than 250 to 280 lbs.
DERBYSHIRE.
Here there is no prevailing breed. The greater part of the pigs kept in this county come from Cheshire and Shropshire, and these are either left in their pure state, or crossed with some of the small
