CHEVIOT.--Medium size, hornless, face and legs white, body closely
covered with wool of soft fiber and pure white. Head bold and broad.
Fleece forms almost a ruff about face. Deep and large in breast, back
wide and straight. Short legs set well apart, hoofs black. Mature rams
200 pounds, ewes 150 pounds.
COTSWOLD.--Large, high-standing breed with heavy fleece of long white,
lustrous wool. Ample topknot often covering eyes. Bold, upright
carriage. Head moderately small, face white or mixed with gray, eyes
prominent, neck short, thick and strong, shoulders broad and full, back
broad, breast broad and well forward, quarters long and full, mutton
quite down to hock. Weight of ram 250 pounds, ewe 200 pounds.
DORSET-HORN.--Face and legs pure white, flesh-colored nose. Both sexes
have horns. Eyes prominent, neck short and symmetrical, shoulders broad
and full. Chest full and deep, quarters wide and full with mutton
extending down to hock. Fleece medium grade, of even quality, extending
over belly and well down on legs. Short, stout legs. Weight for rams 200
pounds, ewes 160 pounds.
HAMPSHIRE DOWN.--Black face, head large, well covered with wool on
forehead and cheeks, nostrils wide. Ears large and drooping, eyes
prominent and lustrous, legs well under outside of body, straight,
almost black. Chest deep and full with breast prominent and full, back
straight, quarters long and deep in thigh. Ewes prolific and heavy
milkers. Weight for rams 250 pounds, ewes 185 to 195 pounds.
OXFORD DOWN.--Largest of down breeds. Nearly straight on underline. Long
and coarse fleece. Very stately appearance. Color of face and legs
brown, which is often flecked with gray. Ewes very prolific and heavy
milkers. Not hardy under American climatic conditions. Rams 250 to 350
pounds, ewes 180 to 275 pounds.
SHROPSHIRE DOWN.--Dark brown face and legs. Broad head, short face,
thick muscular neck, body somewhat barrel shaped, except that it is
straight on back. Body, head and legs to knees covered with fleece of
even length and quality. Weight for rams 225 pounds, ewes 175 pounds.
SOUTH DOWN.--Smallest of down breeds, but the model in form. Short,
straight legs, wide apart; broad level back, thickly fleshed; long,
broad hips; neck short, thick at shoulder; head small, forehead full,
face short, eyes prominent, ears small. Face and legs uniform reddish
brown. Hindquarters carry down very heavy; breast broad and prominent.
Fleece compact, long and close wool, white and carrying some yolk. Best
weight for rams 200 pounds, ewes 150 pounds.
SUFFOLK DOWN.--Large, rangy sheep, black-faced, hornless, with long,
clean, black legs. Wool is of good quality and mutton is excellent. A
good feeder and very prolific.
=Swine, Pig or Hog= (_Sus_).--There are numerous varieties of the
domestic pig. Some have erect and some pendent ears, and those are most
esteemed which exhibit the greatest departure from the wild type,
notably in shorter and less powerful limbs, less muscular and more
rounded forms, wider ribs, and greater wealth of flesh.
The domestication of the pig is remotely ancient, having been
established among the Chinese for some thousands of years. It was
brought to America by the early colonists. However, it is only during
the last two hundred years that the pig has reached its present highly
modified state of domestication, and only during the last century has
selective breeding been carried on to secure rapid growth and much fat.
The Chinese breed is renowned for its fertility. Its head is short and
thick, ears erect, legs very short, chine high and broad, and jowl wide,
belly hanging very near to the ground. As a rule it carries a small
quantity of hair. The skin is usually dark, but the flesh is delicate
and white. The Neapolitan breed is entirely black, with little hair,
remarkably easy to fatten, but scarcely so robust in constitution or so
prolific as the Chinese pig.
Swine are most profitably reared where corn and grass most abound;
hence, they are found in America in largest numbers and highest
development, the United States not infrequently having upwards of fifty
per cent of the world’s supply. In America the industry centers in the
Mississippi valley, where Indian corn is grown in greatest abundance and
at least expense, particularly in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Texas,
Nebraska, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Kansas. These swine are mostly of
the four breeds of the large or “lard” type, viz.: Poland-Chinas, and
Berkshires, Duroc-Jerseys and Chester Whites, the Poland-Chinas
predominating.